Bill of health is a certificate issued and signed by designated port authorities. It certifies the state of health of the ship’s crew and passengers, and its sanitary condition at the time the ship sailed. Vessels are kept in quarantine when cases of contagious diseases are on board or when fumigation is needed.
When a vessel arrives at a port of entry, it is considered in quarantine until a pratique (permission to communicate) has been granted. A free pratique permits a vessel the right of entry without further quarantine restrictions. A provisional pratique specifies the conditions that permit issuance of a free pratique. Most ports generally grant all ships free pratique unless the port authorities believe arriving passengers or crew are infected with, or have been exposed to, contagious diseases.
The term clean bill of health is also often used to indicate that a person suspected of some wrongdoing has been found guiltless.
