diff --git a/lib/classes/dataformat.php b/lib/classes/dataformat.php
index 70bdcec5a6b..99b92e70428 100644
--- a/lib/classes/dataformat.php
+++ b/lib/classes/dataformat.php
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 namespace core;
 
 use coding_exception;
+use core\dataformat\base;
 use core_php_time_limit;
 use stored_file;
 
@@ -41,15 +42,15 @@ class dataformat {
      * Return an instance of a dataformat writer from given dataformat type
      *
      * @param string $dataformat
-     * @return dataformat\base
-     * @throws coding_exception
+     * @return base
+     *
+     * @throws coding_exception For unknown dataformat
      */
-    protected static function get_format_instance(string $dataformat): \core\dataformat\base {
+    public static function get_format_instance(string $dataformat): base {
         $classname = 'dataformat_' . $dataformat . '\writer';
         if (!class_exists($classname)) {
             throw new coding_exception('Invalid dataformat', $dataformat);
         }
-
         return new $classname();
     }
 
diff --git a/lib/tablelib.php b/lib/tablelib.php
index 463ac019897..4954b4fd802 100644
--- a/lib/tablelib.php
+++ b/lib/tablelib.php
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ define('TABLE_P_BOTTOM', 2);
  */
 define('TABLE_SHOW_ALL_PAGE_SIZE', 5000);
 
+use core\dataformat;
 use core_table\local\filter\filterset;
 
 /**
@@ -2315,11 +2316,7 @@ class table_dataformat_export_format extends table_default_export_format_parent
             throw new coding_exception("Output can not be buffered before instantiating table_dataformat_export_format");
         }
 
-        $classname = 'dataformat_' . $dataformat . '\writer';
-        if (!class_exists($classname)) {
-            throw new coding_exception("Unable to locate dataformat/$dataformat/classes/writer.php");
-        }
-        $this->dataformat = new $classname;
+        $this->dataformat = dataformat::get_format_instance($dataformat);
 
         // The dataformat export time to first byte could take a while to generate...
         set_time_limit(0);
diff --git a/lib/tests/dataformat_test.php b/lib/tests/dataformat_test.php
index ebd10b0910a..27dc12ef4da 100644
--- a/lib/tests/dataformat_test.php
+++ b/lib/tests/dataformat_test.php
@@ -14,35 +14,45 @@
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 // along with Moodle.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-/**
- * Tests for the dataformat plugins
- *
- * @package    core
- * @copyright  2020 Paul Holden <paulh@moodle.com>
- * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
- */
-
 namespace core;
 
+use coding_exception;
 use context_system;
 use core_component;
 
 /**
- * Dataformat tests
+ * Tests for the dataformat plugins
  *
  * @package    core
  * @covers     \core\dataformat
  * @copyright  2020 Paul Holden <paulh@moodle.com>
  * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
  */
-class dataformat_test extends \advanced_testcase {
+final class dataformat_test extends \advanced_testcase {
+
+    /**
+     * Test getting writer instance for given dataformat
+     */
+    public function test_get_format_instance(): void {
+        $instance = dataformat::get_format_instance('pdf');
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(\dataformat_pdf\writer::class, $instance);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test getting writer instance for invalid dataformat
+     */
+    public function test_get_format_instance_invalid(): void {
+        $this->expectException(coding_exception::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('Invalid dataformat (weird)');
+        dataformat::get_format_instance('weird');
+    }
 
     /**
      * Data provider to return array of dataformat types
      *
      * @return array
      */
-    public function write_data_provider(): array {
+    public static function write_data_provider(): array {
         $data = [];
 
         $dataformats = core_component::get_plugin_list('dataformat');
diff --git a/lib/upgrade.txt b/lib/upgrade.txt
index 3f180ecd79b..ce3d25e93cf 100644
--- a/lib/upgrade.txt
+++ b/lib/upgrade.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 This files describes API changes in core libraries and APIs,
 information provided here is intended especially for developers.
 
+=== 4.4.2 ===
+
+* The `\core\dataformat::get_format_instance` method is now public, and can be used to retrieve a writer instance for
+  a given dataformat
+
 === 4.4.1 ===
 
 * Use server timezone when constructing `\DateTimeImmutable` for the system `\core\clock` implementation.