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<p>Businesses exporting goods from GB to the EU are required by the EU to use Export
Health Certificates (EHCs) signed by an official vet. EU law sets out the rules which
animals and products from third countries must meet via an EHC. Since the introduction
of the EU’s Animal Health Regulation in April 2021, these requirements have included
a need for ‘regular’ animal heath visits by a veterinarian to establishments of origin
of animals providing products of animal of origin for export i.e., for meat, the farm
where the animals were kept before slaughter. These requirements are set by the EU
and are not within the control of the UK Government. The purpose of the veterinary
visit is to detect or provide information on the signs of disease and these visits
must take place at a frequency proportionate to risk.</p><p> </p><p>Official Veterinarians
(OV) are required to meet the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons principles when
signing Export Health Certificates. The process of providing evidence of regular vet
visits is outlined to Official Veterinarians and exporters in the Notes for Guidance.
We are aware of the concerns raised by industry about the process of providing evidence
of regular vet visits for non-assured farms and we are engaging with businesses and
the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to try and ease the burden on exporters in
meeting these EU requirements. Defra’s published existing Notes for Guidance to support
this export activity is clear that 13 December date for a change to the form of evidence
a certifying vet can accept will be kept under review. We expect to issue further
information to industry in the coming weeks.</p>
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