Legalising CFS, GMP and CPP Certificates from Malaysia for Export
Short answer: To register a product abroad, Malaysian exporters usually need a Certificate of Free Sale (CFS), a GMP certificate or a WHO-format Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CPP), plus a letter of authorisation, legalised for the destination. Malaysia is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so the chain is the issuing authority, then Wisma Putra, then the destination country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Wisma Putra says a health certificate or CFS "must be certified by Ministry of Health" and a certificate of origin by a chamber of commerce. Destination rules then differ: Vietnam requires the medical device free sale certificate and power of attorney to be consular legalised; Saudi Arabia's SFDA wants documents in Arabic or English, with translations authenticated by the Saudi Embassy; Egypt wants CPPs legalised by its embassy unless they are electronic.
What we do: the full chain for export certificates and authorisation letters: notarisation, Wisma Putra attestation, embassy legalisation and translations into Vietnamese, Arabic, Indonesian, Spanish, Portuguese and other languages. Send the certificates and destination on WhatsApp.
Last reviewed: October 2026. For the general chain, see the document legalisation guide.
Who issues what in Malaysia
Medical devices (MDA): a CFS or export permit, "the certificate required by the importing country". Since 1 October 2023 MDA issues an Export Certificate instead of a CFS for export-only devices, and since 1 March 2026 its CFS, Manufacturing Certificate and Export Certificate are issued electronically.
Pharmaceuticals (NPRA): a CPP "in the format recommended by WHO", applied for through QUEST and issued within 15 working days, and GMP certificates for locally made registered products.
Food (MOH Food Safety and Quality): a Certificate of Free Sale for export, issued "within 1 working day", and health certificates within 3 working days.
Certificates of origin: issued by chambers and associations authorised by MITI, and by MITI itself for exports to the United States since 6 May 2025.
What some destinations require
Vietnam, medical devices: the free sale certificate "must be consular legalized", the power of attorney "must be legalized by a Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate", and documents must be in Vietnamese or English.
Vietnam, medicines: Circular 32/2026/TT-BYT, effective 1 October 2026, expands exemptions from consular legalisation where the Drug Administration can verify a foreign document online, and allows electronic notarised copies. Check whether your documents qualify before legalising.
Saudi Arabia (SFDA): documents "must be either in Arabic or English"; other languages need an English translation from an authorised translation office, authenticated by the Saudi Embassy in the country of origin.
Egypt (EDA): the CPP must be "Legalized by the Egyptian Embassy", but "eCPP is exempted from legalization"; agency letters are legalised by a chamber of commerce and the embassy; leaflets are needed in English and Arabic.
Philippines (FDA): documents from countries outside the Apostille Convention, including Malaysia, need "authentication of foreign public documents by the appropriate Philippine Embassy or Consulate General".
Indonesia, medical devices: the letter of authorisation is notarised and legalised by the Indonesian Embassy where required, and documents are submitted in Bahasa Indonesia or English.
The usual chain
Get the certificate from MDA, NPRA, MOH or the chamber, and sign the letter of authorisation.
Notarise company letters and powers of attorney, and printouts of electronic certificates where the embassy or Wisma Putra needs a signature to attest.
Attest at Wisma Putra.
Legalise at the destination embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
Translate into the destination language if required, before or after legalisation as that regulator expects.
Electronic certificates and e-CPPs are changing this chain. Ask before you print and stamp: some destinations now accept the electronic version as it is.
Maklumat dalam Bahasa Melayu
Pengeksport Malaysia yang mendaftar produk di luar negara biasanya memerlukan Sijil Jualan Bebas (CFS), sijil GMP atau CPP, dan surat kebenaran yang disahkan. Oleh sebab Malaysia bukan pihak kepada Konvensyen Apostille, dokumen disahkan oleh Wisma Putra dan kemudian kedutaan negara destinasi. Wisma Putra menetapkan CFS dan sijil kesihatan mesti diperakui oleh Kementerian Kesihatan. Kami menguruskan notari, Wisma Putra, kedutaan dan terjemahan. WhatsApp: +60 17-227 9378.
Common questions
Can I get an apostille on a Malaysian CFS?
No. Malaysia is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so CFS and other certificates are legalised through Wisma Putra and the destination embassy.
Does Wisma Putra attest MDA's electronic certificates directly?
Wisma Putra attests stamps and signatures, so check with us first; a notarised printout is sometimes needed.
Which language does the destination need?
It varies: Vietnam accepts English or Vietnamese for medical devices, Saudi Arabia Arabic or English, Egypt English and Arabic leaflets, Brazil Portuguese. Tell us the regulator and product type.
How long does the chain take?
Wisma Putra and embassy times vary by country. Send the destination and we will give a timeline before you start.
Related guides
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