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Export Health Certificates

Information on export certificates, what types the council provide, requirements, how much they cost and who to contact to request one.

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What is an Export Health Certificate?

An export health certificate (EHC) is an official document that confirms your food or feed export meets specified health requirements. Dependent upon the type of product to be exported EHC may be issued by either:

A. Defra Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) appointed Official Vets and Certifying Officers for:

  • livestock
  • meat products
  • dairy products
  • fish and fishery products.

If you wish to export products in Group A above, then please visit the Defra APHA Gov.UK website at:

GOV.UK – Get an Export Health Certificate (external website)

GOV.UK – Apply for an Export Health Certificate (external website)

Or contact the APHA Centre for International Trade in Carlisle:

Email: exports@apha.gov.uk
Telephone: 03000 200 301

B. Local Authority (LA) Certifying Officers for:

  • fish
  • fishery products
  • products not of animal origin (PNOAO)
  • and some composite products.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council officers may only provide EHC for local businesses exporting products in group B above. The council is not legally obliged to issue export certificates but may do so to help facilitate trade.

Where applicable provision of EHC by the council is a discretionary chargeable service available to East Riding businesses only. Payment of a minimum service charge must be received before an EHC is issued. Any additional costs will be recovered by Sundry Debtor invoice.

Once an application has been received for an export document, officers will review the request, make contact with the business to confirm arrangements for issue of the EHC and provide them with a Payment Reference number. Once payment has been received and confirmed, officers will fulfil the request as arranged. This may involve attending site to view the consignment to undertake relevant checks and view any associated documents such as HACCP, monitoring records, laboratory test reports, etc. Once these checks have been satisfactorily completed the EHC may be issued.

Council food services can provide four different types of certificate dependent on the nature of the export:

1. Defra APHA Export Health Certificates

For export of fish, fishery products or eggs only. Application for these certificates are made initially via the Defra APHA Gov.UK website at:

GOV.UK - Find an export health certificate (external website)

2. Export Health Attestations to support Defra APHA EHC

Under Defra schemes to support EU export certification for use with ‘groupage exports’ (ET193) or for ‘logistics hubs’ (ET197), there is scope for Local Authorities to issue ‘Support Attestations’ providing Certifying Officers assurance regarding the ‘supplying premises’, their inspection history and review of relevant suppliers and traceability processes. Further details on this can be found here:

Export groups of products of animal origin: use 30-day support attestations to prove health and traceability (external website)

3. Local Authority 3rd Country Export Health Certificates (non- Defra APHA)

Where a formal Defra APHA issued EHC is not available. The LA responsible for food or feed law enforcement in a UK based manufacturer or distributor may provide local export certification. Typically this may be where the business may wish to export food or feed to non-EU countries, and would normally be in relation to fishery products, composite foods or foods not of animal origin (FNAO).

4. Local Authority Export Health Declarations (Endorsements)

Where a formal EHC is not prescribed, some countries may accept a ‘premises endorsement’ in the form of an Export Health Declaration document. This is a simple signed endorsement confirming the state of compliance of a ‘premises’ at the time of the last inspection. Usually, they may also require a declaration that the exported products are ‘on sale’ in the UK. The premises endorsement removes the need to refer to any particular batch of food.

In all cases, the council advises food manufacturers/exporters to liaise with the relevant country’s embassy or consulate, food authority, as well as the importer, to find out about any import conditions and certification requirements. Further general advice is available on the GOV.UK website here:

GOV.UK - Export or move food, drink and agricultural products (external website)

The typical information required for the application which will be displayed on the certificate is as follows:

  • Manufacturer
  • Minimum durability
  • Storage conditions
  • Approval number
  • Consignor
  • Consignee
  • Destination
  • Product
  • Quantity
  • Country of origin
  • Date of production
  • Packaging
  • Batch number.

It must be noted that it is the exporter's responsibility to ensure that the destination country's requirements are met.

Some third countries require a certificate of free sale in addition to the export certificate. Details of how to apply for a certificate of free sale can be found at:

GOV.UK - Apply for a certificate of free sale (external website)

How much does an Export Health Certificate cost?

Where applicable provision of EHC by the council is a discretionary chargeable service available to East Riding businesses only. Payment of a minimum service charge must be received before an EHC is issued. Any additional costs will be recovered by Sundry Debtor invoice.

A summary of charges can be viewed in the document below:

How long does it take to process an Export Health Certificate?

Dependent on the nature of the consignment and payment processes, we need 3-5 working days to process and issue an EHC.

Who do I contact to request an Export Health Certificate?

To request a non-APHA EHC please complete the Export Health Certificate Request Form and return it to us giving at least 3-5 working days notice to:

Email: exporthealthcert@eastriding.gov.uk.

This email address can also be used for any other queries relating to Export Certificates.

Export Heath Certificate Request Form (word 77kb)

How do I request an Export Certificate or Official Certificate for Animal Feed?

Export Certificates may be required by feed manufacturers/exporters who wish to export feed to countries outside of Great Britain commonly referred to as third countries.

Dependent on the country of destination, commodity type an export certificate may have to be sourced from the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) or East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

To determine this, please visit the APHA website at:

Exports of animals and animal byproducts (external website)

Or please contact the APHA Centre for International Trade in Carlisle:

Email: liveanimalexports.carlisle@apha.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 03000 200 301

If a certificate is being issued by the APHA this is likely to be signed by a vet (commonly for feed of animal origin), whereas feed of non-animal origin may be certified by a Local Authority.

Where applicable provision of an EHC by the council is a discretionary chargeable service available to East Riding businesses only. See above.

How much does an Export Health Certificate cost?

To request an export certificate for feed from the council see above in Who do I contact to request an Export Health Certificate?

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