Kuwait
Agreement in force · Strong coverage
Laws, documents and trade data — no screening rules yet
Some details for this market are still being checked and are not shown until they are.
Screening rules for this market aren't available yet, so product screening skips it.
Certificates required
- Health certificate (food export, fit for human consumption) — Mandatory (Applies to: All imported food)
- Certificate of origin – non-preferential — Mandatory (Applies to: All imported food (legalised/attested))
- GCC certificate of origin (national product) — Mandatory (Applies to: GCC-origin goods claiming duty-free treatment)
- Veterinary health certificate (products of animal origin) — Mandatory (Applies to: Meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, seafood)
- Phytosanitary certificate (IPPC / ePhyto) — Mandatory (Applies to: Fresh produce, grains, seeds, nuts, spices)
- Halal slaughter certificate (per consignment) — Mandatory (Applies to: Meat and poultry)
- GAC halal accreditation (GCC Accreditation Center) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Halal certificates for animal-derived ingredients/products)
- Free sale certificate (certificate of free sale) — Mandatory (Applies to: Packaged food product registration)
- Certificate of analysis (CoA) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Registration dossiers; high-risk products (aflatoxin, pesticides))
- ISO 22000 (food safety management system) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Manufacturers supplying retail/HoReCa)
- HACCP certification — Commonly requested (Applies to: Manufacturers; municipality food-establishment approval)
- Radiation / radioactivity certificate — Commonly requested (Applies to: Selected origins/products (confirm with authority))
Import and export
Documents to import
- Commercial invoice (1 original + 2 copies) — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Packing list — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
- Bill of lading (3 copies) — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
- Certificate of origin (1 original + 2 copies) — Issued by: Exporting-country chamber — Mandatory
- Health certificate — Issued by: Competent authority of exporting country — Mandatory
- Halal slaughter certificate — Issued by: Approved Islamic centre — Conditional
- Import licence — Issued by: Ministry of Commerce and Industry — Mandatory
- Food importer registration and consignment release (inspection, sampling) — Issued by: Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) — Mandatory
- Legalisation / consular attestation — Issued by: Kuwaiti embassy / chamber — Mandatory
Documents to export
No verified documents yet.
Government fees
- PAFN food consignment inspection / lab fees (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- MOCI import licence (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- Consular legalisation of invoice / CoO (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
- VAT/GST on imported food (Import) — 0%
Customs single window: KGAC e-services, PAFN
Customs duties are not included.
A fee without a confirmed amount is listed by name only.
Reference documents
- USDA FSIS Export Library — Kuwait (2025) Open the source
- GSO 2500 — Additives permitted for use in food stuffs (2022) Open the source
- GSO 9:2022 — Labeling of prepackaged food stuffs (Gulf Technical Regulation) (2022) Open the source
- GSO 193:2021 — Contaminants and toxins in food and feed (2021) Open the source
- GSO 150-1:2013 — Expiration dates for food products Part 1: mandatory (+Amd 2:2022); Part 2 voluntary (2013) Open the source
- USDA FAIRS Narrative — Kuwait (legacy) (2011) Open the source
- Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) website (current) Open the source
- trade.gov Country Commercial Guide — Kuwait Import Requirements and Documentation (current) Open the source
- trade.gov Country Commercial Guide — Kuwait Standards for Trade (current) Open the source
Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.
Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.