Background
Amivet have been certifying shipments of products of animal origin (POAO) being exported to all parts of the world, for many years.
Since Brexit, much of our workload has been focussed close to home, but ROW shipments still makes up a large part of our work.
However, new trade deals such as CPTPP and the opening up and exploration of other non-EU markets post Brexit, provides further demand in this area.
What EHCs Are Available?
There are nearly 1,000 EHCs available, and the vast number of combinations of commodity and country, mean the topic is too broad to cover here in great depth, but we will touch on some of the principles. To search for the EHCs available please use our interactive map.
Is there an EHC available for your commodity and country?
YES – the export is possible, subject to meeting the requirements of the EHC eg health status, heat treatment etc
NO – there can be several reasons for this:-
- The product is banned and not exportable at all
- No EHC is required eg the product is considered very low risk or does not contain any POAO (there are a very few countries that require an EHC to confirm this)
- The export has not been tried before.
In the latter case, it can be challenging to make progress and find out what is required. Working with an import agent, your trade association, DEFRA and even direct contact with the country’s embassy can be helpful. Occasionally, DEFRA can work in conjunction with the destination country to generate a bespoke EHC, however this can take time.
The Process
The application process is fairly standard. The exporter must first register for a Government Gateway/EHCO account and then apply for the EHC, which will be forwarded to the certifying OV for completion. The majority are electronic but a small number are posted out on watermarked paper.
We would then seek to inspect the consignment prior to certifying. Supporting evidence and/or declarations would also be sought to support the certification process. Where necessary, we can supply template declarations.
Once the EHC is issued, a certified copy scan would be made and the original either sent with the consignment, or by post/courier separately, as determined by the importing country’s authorities.
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Take Note…
There are many exceptions to the above guidance, too many to cover here, but our wide experience means that someone in the team will know the answer.
- Some countries/commodities (e.g USA) deviate from the ‘normal’ process, so the OV completes a ‘pre-certificate’. This is then submitted to the APHA’s Centre for International Trade, Carlisle, and the final version is signed by an APHA employed veterinarian.
- An import permit is required in some cases. This is usually applied for by the importer. It is important to establish if an import permit is required, in advance of the EHC process, as the two documents must align.
- Legalisation – some countries need the EHC to be stamped by their embassy, known as legalising or apostellating.
Many ‘rest of world’ countries are significantly more straightforward to export to than the EU, so although further afield, exporters should not be put off exploring these markets. We are more than happy to discuss our experience of any of these markets with you.