Health Certificate Requirements for Letter of Credit Shipments
What to check on a health or sanitary certificate presented under a Letter of Credit.
Reviewed by LCCheck team (owner-approved) · 2026-10-12
Short answer
A health (sanitary or veterinary) certificate confirms that food or animal products meet health requirements. Under a Letter of Credit, UCP 600 has no specific article for it: it must be issued by the body the credit names, fulfil its function, and not conflict with other documents (Art. 14(d), 14(f)). Destination import rules may add requirements the bank does not check.
| Specific UCP article | None — Art. 14 applies |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Usually a competent authority; as named in the credit |
| Bank checks | Face of the document only |
What to check
- Issuer matches the credit.
- Product description consistent with the invoice.
- Quantity, packages, marks and container numbers consistent.
- Consignee and destination consistent.
- Dated as the credit or import rules require.
Common errors
- Product named differently from 45A.
- Container numbers differ from the bill of lading.
- Issued by a private lab when an authority is required.
Sources
- ICC — UCP 600 (Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits)
- ICC Academy — avoiding Letter of Credit discrepancies
General guidance, not legal advice. Your bank examines documents independently.
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