Commonwealth Trade MSME Exporter Portal

馃嚞馃嚟 Ghana 路 Category 5 of 9

HACCP and SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) requirements

Verified 路 21 May 2026

Food exports need FDA food-safety compliance (often HACCP) and plant/agricultural exports need a phytosanitary certificate from PPRSD before shipment.

Overview

If you export anything edible or grown, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules decide whether your goods are accepted or destroyed at the border. For processed food, the Food and Drugs Authority regulates manufacturing hygiene and increasingly expects a HACCP-based food-safety system, especially for buyers in the EU, UK and US who require it contractually. For fresh produce, plants, nuts, grains and other agricultural goods, the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is Ghana's National Plant Protection Organization: it inspects the consignment and issues the phytosanitary certificate confirming the goods are pest-free and meet the importing country's requirements. Ghana operates the electronic ePhyto system for these certificates. Fish and fishery products have their own competent-authority health certification for the EU market. Plan inspections early, because certificates are issued against the actual consignment shortly before shipping.

Key requirements

  1. 1

    Phytosanitary certificate (plants and produce)

    PPRSD inspects and certifies agricultural consignments as pest-free and compliant with the importing country's phytosanitary conditions.

  2. 2

    FDA food-safety compliance / HACCP

    Processed-food exporters must meet FDA hygiene standards and, for many export markets, operate a documented HACCP system.

  3. 3

    Import permit of destination country

    Obtain and match the destination's SPS import permit conditions before PPRSD can certify to those requirements.

  4. 4

    Treatment and inspection

    Consignments may require fumigation or treatment and are inspected close to shipment date; certificates reference the specific lot.

  5. 5

    ePhyto electronic certification

    Ghana issues phytosanitary certificates electronically through the ePhyto system, streamlining exchange with importing NPPOs.

Documents you will need

  • Phytosanitary certificate (PPRSD)
  • FDA food registration / free sale certificate
  • HACCP or food-safety management certificate
  • Certificate of analysis / laboratory test report
  • Destination country SPS import permit
  • Fumigation / treatment certificate where required
  • Health certificate (fish and fishery products)