Ingredient Certificate for Algeria

Ingredient Certificates for Food, Supplements and Cosmetics in Algeria

Algerian importers and authorities want to know exactly what is inside a product before it reaches the shelf. For processed food, food ingredients, dietary supplements, cosmetics and some chemicals, the manufacturer’s ingredient certificate (also called a composition certificate, or in French certificat de composition) answers that question. It is often requested alongside the certificate of analysis and the free sale certificate.

What the certificate should contain

An ingredient certificate lists every ingredient in the product, usually in descending order by weight, often with percentages and with additives identified by name or E-number. It should match the product label and the formula in your registration file exactly. Product name, product code and, where relevant, the version or recipe number should be the same on every document the Algerian side receives.

Declarations Algerian buyers often add

For the Algerian market, importers frequently ask the manufacturer to add specific statements. A common one is a declaration that the product contains no pork or pork derivatives and no alcohol, or states the origin of animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin, enzymes and emulsifiers. Other buyers ask for a GMO status or allergen declaration. Ask your importer for the exact wording they need, because a missing declaration can hold up clearance or registration. Where formal halal certification is required, it is a separate document, often accompanied by a halal certificate.

How it is certified

The ingredient certificate is the manufacturer’s own document, so a government office can’t certify it directly. A responsible officer, typically the quality, regulatory or technical manager, signs it on company letterhead in person before a U.S. notary. Since Algeria joined the Hague Apostille Convention (effective July 9, 2026), the notarized certificate needs only an apostille from the Secretary of State of the notary’s state. The U.S. Department of State and the Algerian Embassy are no longer involved.

Registration or every shipment?

For a product registration, one certified ingredient certificate per product is usually filed with the dossier. For imports, some buyers ask for a certificate with each shipment, especially for ingredients sold in bulk. Confirm what your importer needs. If the formula changes, issue and certify a new certificate.

Translation

Labels and documents for the Algerian market generally need to be in Arabic, and French is widely used. Your importer usually arranges the official translation of the ingredient certificate after the apostille.