Dec 16th, 2021
10 mins
This is a reminder that in a month, from 15 January 2022 you will need to use the Animal Health Regulation (AHR) Export Health Certificates (EHCs) for goods exported from Great Britain (GB) to the EU or moved to Northern Ireland (NI) if an EHC is required.
If you are a trader who exports certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin you will need to use the AHR EHCs from 15 January.
The majority of AHR EHCs have been available for use on EHC Online since August 2021 and you may already be using them. If you are not yet familiar with the requirements of the new EHCs you should review them before 15 January 2022.
Timing
The old EHCs will be withdrawn from EHC Online on 14 January. From 1pm on that date you will no longer be able to raise new applications for these EHCs.
Any in-progress exports using the pre-AHR EHCs will still be valid for entry into the EU so long as the EHC is signed before 11.59 pm on 14 January, and the consignment arrives at the point of entry in the EU by 15 March 2022.
Please consider timings and factor in how long it normally takes you to get an EHC when exporting your goods. Also, be aware products exported on the AHR EHCs from 15 January may require changes to be made to Support Health Attestations (SHA) earlier than 15th so they reflect conditions of the AHR EHCs.
AHR updates
Live animal EHCs
The EU has confirmed its intention to recognise GB as free of bluetongue in legislation. The live animal EHCs 8446, 8447, 8448, 8449 and 8452 for live cattle, sheep and goats which were removed from EHC online until this was resolved will be made available again shortly. We will keep you updated on this.
Dairy EHCs
The EU has confirmed its intention to update the AHR dairy EHCs in line with recent changes in legislation on the residency requirements for animals producing milk present in dairy products. We have proposed to the Commission that the AHR dairy EHCs be certified in line with this intention as an interim solution. Dairy EHCs 8354, 8353 and 8358, which were removed from EHC Online, will be made available again once we have clarity from the Commission. We will let you know when the EHCs are available and how they should be certified from 15 January.
Hatching eggs
The requirement for the hatching eggs AHR EHCs is for an Official Veterinarian (OV) to inspect the flocks of origin 24 hrs before loading for dispatch. The Commission has signalled their intention to amend this requirement and have updated the associated legislation. We are proposing an interim arrangement to allow certification of the existing AHR certificate model and will update the Notes for Guidance once an agreement on this has been reached with the EU. Alternatively, if a revised EHC is made available in time by the EU we will make this available on EHC online.
Fish
We have recently received further clarification on EHC 8361 – this covers live fish, live crustaceans and products of animal origin from those animals intended for human consumption. The EU has clarified the definition of further processing in the EU to include any anatomical change to the fish or shellfish prior to final sale to the consumer – this includes bleeding, gutting, filleting and scaling. The ‘Notes for Guidance’ for this EHC will be updated to reflect the clarification.
If your fish, shellfish or fishery products will undergo any further anatomical change that produces waste in the EU, then the ‘further processing’ box must be checked. If this box is checked, and your consignment contains fish or shellfish listed in the legislation (for example Atlantic Salmon) and is also from an aquaculture source or is hand gathered, then the EHC must be signed by an OV. However, if the fish is wild caught and landed onto a fishing vessel or is not a species listed in the legislation, then it can also to be certified by a Food Competent Certifying Officer (FCCO). If your fish products will not undergo further processing in the EU and are ready for human consumption, then you need to check the box ‘products for human consumption’. If this box is checked then the EHC can be signed by a Food Competent Certifying Officer (FCCO) or OV. Only one of the four options in I.20 must be checked – for example the ‘further processing’ box or the ‘products for human consumption’. EHC 8361 will need to be used from 15 January 2022.
Re-exports of EU origin POAO
The new EHCs for a number products of animal origin, including meat products, meat preparations, fishery products and dairy products cannot be used to re-export EU origin product back to the EU. However, the EU have recently introduced a new EHC, 8461, for the re-export of EU origin product held in storage in Great Britain. If you currently use a pre-AHR EHC to re-export EU origin product, you should familiarise yourself with the conditions of this new EHC. We are continuing to discuss the re-export of EU origin product that cannot use this new EHC with the EU and will issue further communications as soon as we receive clarity.
Animal by-products – rendered fats
EHC 8301 has been updated to remove the requirement to add a marker to rendered fats not for human consumption from Category 3 animal by-products. 8311 and 8312 have also been updated to provide an alternative to the requirement for these animal by-products to originate from livestock that comply with a 40-day residency in their last holding. These EHCs are for animal by-products used in pet food or trade samples.
Further information
The following updated guidance and information is available on the trader showcase site:
