International trade: exports of animals, animal products and germplasm to non-EU countries - Export Health Certificates questions and answers
Export Health Certificates
- What is an export health certificate (EHC)?
- Who signs an EHC?
- Will I need an EHC?
- How do I get an EHC?
- Will I be charged for using an EHC?
- What if no suitable EHC is available?
- What happens if I don’t use an EHC?
- Do I need any other documents to export?
What is an Export Health Certificate (EHC)?
An Export Health Certificate is an official veterinary document used to confirm that your consignment of animals or animal products meets certain animal health criteria. For example, the EHC may confirm:
- that the animal products were heated to a specific temperature, or
- that Great Britain is free of a particular disease, or
- that the animals have not been in contact with infected animals.
The actual wording of an EHC is dictated by a number of factors such as the import requirements of the destination country, the type of animal or product being exported and the intended use or purpose of the animal or product. This can lead to an enormous amount of variation from one EHC to another, meaning that there is no such thing as a standard or generic EHC.
Please note that whilst we make every effort to ensure that our EHCs meet the necessary rules of the destination country, the import requirements of other countries can change dramatically and at very short notice. Therefore we cannot guarantee that the destination country will accept our EHCs. This is why it is essential that exporters confirm the import requirements of the destination country to ensure that the EHC is acceptable to the destination country and that the consignment can comply with both the EHC and the importing country’s conditions before committing themselves.
Who signs an EHC?
The original EHC will need to be signed and stamped by an Official Veterinarian shortly before departure. An Official Veterinarian is a veterinarian who has been specifically authorised to sign EHCs on behalf of Defra, the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department or the National Assembly for Wales.
The completed EHC must then accompany the animals or products on their outward journey and should be made available for inspection by the importing authorities upon arrival.
If you have never used the services of an Official Veterinarian before, you should contact your local Animal Health Divisional Office (AHDO) for advice.
Will I need an EHC?
If you intend exporting any live animals, live birds or anything containing any ingredients derived from animals or birds for any purpose then you will probably need an EHC. This can apply equally to permanent commercial exports and temporary personal exports.
Here are some examples of animals and animal products which may require an EHC:
| pets | (e.g. any companion animals or birds) | ||
| livestock | (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, deer) | ||
| birds | (e.g. poultry, cage birds, birds of prey) | ||
| meat products | (e.g. frozen, cooked, raw, bones, offal, soup, stock, suet, dripping) | ||
| dairy products | (e.g. cheese, cream, powdered milk, lactose, whey, casein) | ||
| genetic material | (e.g. semen, ova, embryos, hatching eggs) | ||
| laboratory materials | (e.g. antibodies, enzymes, blood fractions, peptides, saccharides) | ||
| other examples | (e.g. zoo animals, wool, hides, gelatine, hair, bone ash) |
The exact nature and wording of an EHC ultimately depends on the requirements of the importing country. On rare occasions a specific form of words may be required on the EHC in order to comply with EU legislation.
How do I get an EHC?
To apply for an EHC, please contact your local AHDO who will provide you with the appropriate application form. Your AHDO can also provide you with specimen copies of our EHCs to help you prepare for the export. In addition, they can give you the details of your nearest Official Veterinarian, who will be responsible for signing the EHC.
The network of 24 AHDOs spans the whole of Great Britain and allows Animal Health to fulfil its role as the Government’s delivery agent for animal health and welfare in England, Scotland and Wales.
If you are a regular exporter, then you may wish to consider applying online using our Exports on Line (EOL) system.
Will I be charged for using an EHC?
Defra does not currently charge for issuing an EHC, but you will be required to pay for the services of the Official Veterinarian who will sign it. We recommend that you discuss your proposed export and any veterinary fees with your Official Veterinarian.
What if no suitable EHC is available?
There could be a number of reasons why we do not have a suitable EHC for your export. For example, the importing country may have imposed a trade ban or we may not be able to meet their import conditions. It may also be the case that an EHC is not required or, more likely, you may be the first person to want to export a particular animal or product there.
If no suitable EHC is currently available, you should contact the destination country’s veterinary authorities to determine their import conditions. See the "before you export" section for more information.
When you receive the import conditions, you should read them thoroughly and, if you are satisfied that your animals or animal products would be able to meet the necessary requirements and if they stipulate that an official veterinary certificate is required, you should forward them your AHDO.
Our Veterinary Advisors will then be able to consider whether a suitable EHC can be produced to meet the import requirements. In most cases, we have to negotiate with the destination country to obtain their agreement for the EHC to be used. Please note that because of the technical nature of the negotiations required to produce a mutually acceptable EHC, the process can take several weeks to complete.
What happens if I don’t use an EHC?
If the destination country requires an EHC and your animals or animal products arrive without a valid EHC then the authorities will consider your consignment to be illegal and can seize it. Not only will this cause significant delays to your export but it is likely that you will incur extra expense for the storage and possible cleansing of your consignment. This is also likely to increase the stress on any live animals or birds being detained and is obviously a situation best avoided.
You should also be aware that importing authorities usually have legislation in place which allows them to destroy illegal consignments of live animals and animal products, often without any form of compensation.
This is another reason why it is vital that you confirm the destination country’s import requirements before you export.
Do I need any other documents to export?
In addition to the EHC, you may also need documentation to cover other issues such as animal welfare, CITES requirements, animal movement licences and permission to market the goods. For more information on other possible export requirements, please read the "before you export" section.
Page last modified:
30 May, 2008
Page published: 16 November, 2006