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The Certification Process

A step-by-step guide to certifying your consignments

How does it work?

1. Find out what EHC do you need to export your products to the desired country

2. Get in touch so we can assign you a local OV to certify your export

3. Our OV will visit to inspect and sign off your consignment on-site

Get in Touch

1. Find out what type of Export Health Certification (EHC) you need to export your products to the desired country

There are more than 1500 types of EHC available, use the government finder to find the right one for you, based on the type of commodities you want to export and the destination country.

2. Get in touch and we’ll assign you one of our local Official Vets 

Make an initial contact so we can asses your particular requirements and discuss the ways in which we can support your business. 

What to expect from our initial call?  After our first call, we’ll get back in touch to advise about any complementary documentation that might be needed, an estimation of costs and fees involved, and we’ll assign you to one of our local Official Veterinarians to support you in the process. 

3. Apply for your EHC to the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) 

You can apply for an EHC either online or by email. Applying online means you can copy previous applications for similar exports, and you and your OV will be able to access and track the status of your application online. Your EHC will be available to download and print as soon as APHA has finished checking your application. 

Alternatively, you can apply by email by downloading and filling in the EHC and export application form (EXA) and emailing them to APHA at exports@apha.gov.uk (you’ll need to send a separate email for each application).

4. An OV will visit, inspect and sign off your consignments on-site prior to the export

We will check your product, labelling, storage etc., and any additional required documentation that might include details of country of origin, heat treatments or other processing details. We will complete, sign and stamp the export health certificate so you can export your goods.

Other frequently asked questions

  • Export Health Certificate (EHC)
  • What type of EHC do I need?
  • How much does it cost?
  • How long does it take?

Export Health Certificate (EHC)

What is an export health certificate?

An export health certificate is an official document that proves your export meets the safety and welfare standards of the country you’re exporting to. 

Do I need an export health certificate when exporting goods from the UK to all countries?

Whilst we remain in the Brexit transition period, the export rules to Europe for products of animal origin remain unchanged but, for all Third Countries an export health certificate will be required. 

Which types of products require an export health certificate? 

There are many types of products from the obvious to the more obscure, that need an export health certificate please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Where do Vet Exports come into the equation? 

All export health certificates must be signed by an Official Vet – a vet authorised by the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA). In other words, it’s our job to confirm that your products meet all the relevant requirements of the EHC and are ready for export. We can also provide registered veterinary surgeons to complete support attestations.

What type of EHC do I need?

What type of EHC do I need? 

This depends on a number of factors including; destination country, commodity type and individual product for export. You can find out more infomation and which EHC you will require on the APHA website. 

How much does it cost?

How much does it cost? 

This depends on the requirements of the individual EHC and the accompanying notes for guidance. Please get in touch with us to discuss your requirements.

How long does it take?

How long does it take?

This depends on the requirements of the individual EHC and the accompanying notes for guidance. The cost will be related to the time it will take to complete these documents to allow your export to go ahead.
Please get in touch with us to discuss your requirements.

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