Vet Attestation

UPDATE: Monday 19th February 2024

Veterinary attestation for exports of Products of Animal Origin to the EU Q&A guidance for industry and vets.

Please follow this link : Defra QA - vet attestations for POAO exports to the EU (v5).pdf (windows.net)

UPDATE: 28th November 2023

Vet Attestation is due to go live on 13th December and to ensure you have the latest information please find below links to, letter to livestock producers, a Q&A document, and further details regarding this process.

Letter to livestock producers

Q&A which is being updated frequently.

Further details regarding Vet Attestation and Vet Attestation Numbers (VAN)  Exports | AHDB

Vet Attestation

From the 13th December 2023 livestock farmers that are not part of certain approved quality assurance scheme are required to undertake a Vet Attestation Inspection.

 

Changes in EU legislation mean that producers will require a Veterinary Attestation to allow their animals, and/or part of any animal, to be exported out of the UK. The purpose of a vet attestation is to comply with export requirements to verify the absence of notifiable disease and provide general advice on farm biosecurity.

 

It is important to note it applies to all breeders where there is a chance some of their produce may be exported. E.g. selling through livestock auctions, selling to abattoirs. This may also apply to breeders that use an abattoir to slaughter their own produce, despite the breeder having the animal back there is a chance that the animals 5th quarter products may be exported.

 

A Vet Attestation visit will last for one year. Breeders will be given Vet Attestation Number (VAN) which must be written on any food chain information document. The VAN will be used by the vet at the slaughterhouse to sign off export certificates for any animals or parts of animals destined for EU markets.

Farmers who are part of the following are not required to get a VAN:

  • Red Tractor
  • QMS (Quality Meat Scotland)
  • Farm Assured Welsh Livestock and Lamb Scheme (FAWL)
  • Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers (WLBP)
  • Lion Quality
  • Poultry Health Scheme

 

The inspection could be undertaken as part of a routine visit, all livestock species on the farm need to be considered and the vet needs to assess the biosecurity risk in relation to notifiable diseases. All sites that are under the same CPH number will need to be  assessed to enable the vet to issue the attestation for the whole CPH number. Where there are multiple species on one site they can be subject to one veterinary attestation, as long as the biosecurity issues for all species on that site are assessed during the vet visit.

Visits conducted under DEFRA’s Animal Health and Welfare Review Pathway scheme in England will automatically include the creation of a VAN.

 

As previously mentioned, the key point of this is to ensure that all livestock producers comply and understand if they require a VAN. Although small abattoirs may not export themselves, they may sell-on the 5th quarter which may be destined for those markets.

 

It is important to discuss this with you vet and ensure you allow for sufficient time for the inspection to occur.

 

The template and guidance can be downloaded: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/veterinary-declaration-for-animal-health-visits