How to choose an official veterinarian to sign your export documents

A lot of people aren’t aware that in order to export some animal-based products outside the EU you must have the Export Health Certificate (EHC). This can include however, it is not only limited to eggs, dairy, meat and other animal products. Only a licensed veterinarian (OV) and must be a fully licensed veterinarian, is able to sign an EHC which is why we’ve created this blog post to provide a brief guideline for what to be looking for when selecting an OV.

Can any vet be a signer on an official export medical certificate?

The simple answer is not. Only an official veterinarian (OV) who has been authorized by DEFRA to sign government paperwork on behalf of the Government is authorized to sign EHCs. Based on where in your country you’re exporting, EHCs may be required to:

Meat (beef lamb, pork as well as venison, poultry and the processed products of meat)
Dairy (milk, yogurt, whey cheese, butter, cheese and Ice cream)
Skins, hides, wool feathers, lanolin
Collagen, gelatin & casings
Eggs
Products from the fishery and fishing industry
Laboratory
Animal feed and pet food
Miscellaneous

The official veterinarians are appointed to a panel e.g. PX (product exports ), which includes products from animals, such as the ones mentioned above) They received a more rigorous education in the process of preparing export documents, and are subject to periodic renewal of their certification.

How can I be sure I’m picking the correct vet surgeon?

There are very only a few vets appointed to this panel and are actively involved in this area. So, there are number of factors to take into consideration when choosing an OV. They include:

Experience – Do they have any experience with the country and product you are considering?
Quality – can they deliver an excellent service?
Reliability – Will they show up at the right time and perform what they have promised and also complete as well as return EHCs in a timely manner?
Are they available to meet the deadlines? Are they able to work on weekends and late into the night if required?
Location – Are they able to be transported to your place of work, or to the location of export?
Contacts – Are they regularly in contacts with the trade bodies, e.g. DIT, APHA and other organisations in the field to ensure they’re up-to-date with the most recent legislation and certificate modifications?
Affiliated – do you have a designated point of contact to ensure you can have a vet who really understands your business instead of having a new person show up every time?
Proactive – Can they explore new markets with you in order to increase and expand your company?
Informative – do they frequently update their latest news, updates and information via their website, email, and social media?

The best part is that we meet all the criteria above as well as, thanks to our years of experience, as well as numerous satisfied customers, we’ve gained an in-depth understanding of both the legal requirements for exporting and the international market opportunities available to customers.

What can we do to help you with your requirements for veterinary exporting?

We provide dependable quick, efficient, and high-quality service that is tailored to your particular needs. In our advice services we can assist you identify new markets for export to help grow your company.

Our veterinarians are licensed and have extensive knowledge of every aspect of exporting, and have close connections with trade associations and other organizations who work to increase education and awareness about exports. As a part of our proactive strategy we’ll collaborate with you to fully comprehend your needs as a business.

Start exporting now.

If you believe you’re ready to begin your journey to export now, get in touch with us to arrange an initial telephone appointment or via email with our knowledgeable vet team.