Export Certification Services and Fees

Export Certification Program Services and Fees Effective July 1, 2024

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Export Certification Program facilitates and expedites movement of Minnesota’s agricultural products into the domestic and international marketplace. The MDA is responsible for inspecting and certifying agricultural products to ensure they meet the import regulations of the destination state or country. The MDA cooperates with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine Program (USDA APHIS PPQ) Export Services to issue federal documents called phytosanitary certificates for commodities entering foreign countries. The MDA also serves as the first contact for many exporters in their quest to establish a presence in the international marketplace.

Federal Phytosanitary Certificates:

• A certificate often required by countries as proof that agricultural products being imported have been inspected in the country of origin and are free of plant pests (insects, weed seeds, diseases).
• The MDA is authorized to issue these Federal Documents for the USDA.
• Applications are processed on-line.
• $100 MDA fee + $6 USDA admin fee = $106 / Certificate
• There is no additional fee for most inspections. See below for more details.

State Phytosanitary Certificates:

• A certificate occasionally required by U.S. states as proof that agricultural products have been inspected in the state of origin and are free of plant pests (insects, weed seeds, diseases).
• The process is equivalent to the Federal Phytosanitary Certification Program but is done at the state level without Federal oversight.
• Applications are processed on-line.
• $100 / Certificate
• There is no additional fee for most inspections. See below for more details.

Replacement Phytosanitary Certificates (Federal or State): 

• If the change is due to a customer error or change the  cost is the same as the original certificate.
• If the change is due to an MDA or USDA error the replacements are free of charge.
• Replacement requests are processed on-line.

Export Inspections:

The MDA inspects raw or minimally processed plant products for phytosanitary certification, such as logs, lumber,
nursery stock, and seed. Large grain shipments are not inspected by the MDA. Grain is officially sampled and inspected
by FGIS authorized companies in Minnesota. Those companies provide a 921-2 inspection form that can be used in lieu
of MDA inspection of the shipment. Contact them directly to schedule inspections and/or discuss charges.

Inspections 2 hours or less on site

• If you obtain a phytosanitary certificate from the MDA, there is no charge for the inspection. The fee is built into the cost of the certificate.
• If you do not obtain a phytosanitary certificate from the MDA the inspection is $100.
• Special inspections for other reasons are $100 each.

Inspections over 2 hours on site

• Billed at $100 / additional hour.

Cancelled Inspections

• If the customer cancels an inspection before the inspector travels to the location, there is no fee.
• If the inspector shows up at the inspection but the customer then cancels the inspection, there will be a $100 fee.

Inspection Delays

• If a customer has set up an inspection time with the inspector but they are not ready, the MDA will bill $100 for every 30 minutes of wait time.

Lab Tests (Phytosanitary needs only):

• Any samples submitted for export test purposes must be officially collected.
• The MDA collects official samples at the normal inspection service cost. See above for more information.
• $50 average cost / test. Price varies depending on the extent of diagnostic test needed. Call or email for specific price quotes.
• A national seed health accredited lab, state, or university lab can also conduct tests on official samples for export. Contact those labs directly for price quotes.
• Please contact a university or private lab for non-phytosanitary certification tests and plant diagnostics, as the MDA lab will not process these requests.

Japanese Beetle (JB) Compliance Certificates:

• Used to ship plants and sod to category 1 & 2 states (typically south and west of Minnesota).
• Each company will need to be under a compliance agreement. Compliance agreements allow customers to customize their certification options.
• Compliance agreements are $100 each. There is no additional cost for shipping certificates.
• Inspection charges for trapping are an additional $10 per trap.
• Inspection charges for soil sampling are an additional $10 per acre.

European Corn Borer (ECB) Certificates:

• Used by grain elevators shipping dried corn to prove freedom from large corn cob pieces regulated by Western States for European corn borer.
• Annual inspection of screens is required. Inspections completed while the MDA is on site for other purposes areprovided at no charge.
• Inspections that are scheduled for times when the MDA is not on site for other purposes cost $100 each.
• $25 / certificate. One certificate is required per shipment.

State of Origin Certificates:

• Used to ship small grains through Canada and back into the U.S. by rail.
• Grain may NOT be off loaded in Canada.
• Compliance agreement to follow the rules updated every 3 years (no charge).
• $25 / Certificate.  (One certificate is required per shipment (train).)

Non-GMO Grain Certification:

• MDA has partnered with Minnesota Crop Improvement (MCIA) to create a Minnesota non-GMO grain certification program.
• The program begins before planting, so advance planning is required. 
• There is an option of receiving an MDA issued non-GMO Certificate of Compliance (requested through MCIA). 
• All program administration and billing is conducted by MCIA and questions should be directed to them at 800-510-6242