On 31 July 2024 new Export Health Certificates were published for horses being exported to the EU or moving to Northern Ireland.
The key change in these EHCs is that attestations referring previously to “veterinary supervision” now refer to “official veterinary supervision”. ie from now only an Official Veterinarian (OV) may attest to the statements around the animal, and the premises on which it has been kept.
BEVA would like feedback on the impact of these changes so that it can fully engage with Defra on this issue, please email us to share your thoughts.
Old Certificates will remain vaild providing they (and the declarations within them ) were signed and issued no later than 15 August 2024.
Update - 12 August 2024
Following further calls with the Defra team BEVA can share the following update.
The amendment to the wording of the OV attestation does not have any impact on the EHCs for the return legs of EU to UK to EU temporary movements (e.g. for a race meetings, competitions or sales). Pre-existing systems are still acceptable.
The wording of the new OV declaration for the "home vet" to sign is being amended broadly as follows:
• from "I, the undersigned Official Veterinarian, declare that the equine animal described in Part 1" to "I, the undersigned Official Veterinarian, declare that, so far as I can determine, the equine animal described in Part 1"
• the options are being clarified and made "either / or"
• the footnotes will refer to the relevant notes for guidance (which define, amongst other things, "supervision")
These amendments should be live next week.
The OV declaration for the "home vet" may be signed by any OV (this could be anyone holding just the foundation level ES (Essential Skills) qualification). There is no requirement for this OV to hold equine or export qualifications.
The reliance (in the EHCs) on information being accurately provided by owners etc is acknowledged to have associated risks, but these risk are deemed acceptable.
Clearly we have not been able to (and realistically cannot) get the EU to change their attestation requirements. There will now be a need for some practices (those who don't employ an OV but whose clients' horses may be exported after sales etc) to ensure that someone can sign the OV declaration. If they are to keep their clients happy, they will need to either get a member of their team to OCQ(V) - ES (Essential Skills) level, or to come to an arrangement with a local OV.
Please let us know, with specifics, if the new requirements create problems in the field.