Easements agreed between the United Kingdom and Third Countries (Third Country Easements)
As of this update of 21 March 2022, the majority of Third Country export countries to which COVID 19 related easements (allowing the use of plain white paper instead of Crown Gold (Vellum) paper for Export Health Certificates) have applied, have now agreed to accept Export Health Certificates that employ new DEFRA approved security features (dithered watermark /crown and unique identifier). These new security features are applied to plain white paper during the DECOL certificate generation process. The intention is to roll out the new security features to all Third Country Export certificates in the fullness of time, thus removing the need for the use of Crown Gold (Vellum) paper in future. Details on all countries who are now currently accepting Export Health Certificates using the new security features are provided in the link below. The original easements now only apply to Export Health Certificates for The People’s Republic of China and Myanmar. Those changes (easements) have previously been agreed by the United Kingdom and those countries, and apply to all commodities for them. The changes to the use of new security feature Export Health Certificates have been agreed by the UK and all countries listed in the link below.
Details of all remaining easements agreed with Third Countries are available on the Third Country EHC Easements Summary Table at the following link: Northern Ireland to third country exports information | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)
Details of Third countries where the new DEFRA security features are used for EHCs can be found at Crown Gold Paper Removal- Participating Countries and other guidance at the following link: Northern Ireland to third country exports information | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)
Are there any changes to how I apply to export my commodity?
No, applications for export should still be made in the usual way, using DECOL and/or the TRACES NT system. You should provide as much advance notification as possible, to help us process your application on time.
Therefore, if, prior to COVID restrictions, you had normally posted or hand delivered any support documentation relevant to your application, to a DAERA Direct Office, or to an Official Veterinarian in an approved establishment, you should continue to make arrangements to submit this information electronically where possible.
As a result of the easing of COVID restrictions in Northern Ireland and as part of the NI Executive Pathway out of Restriction announced by Minister Edwin Poots recently, DAERA Direct offices re-open to the public from 7 June 2022. Of the 12 regional offices, 9 are currently configured to facilitate visiting without appointment whilst the remaining 3, Coleraine, Dungannon and Strabane offices are currently configured for appointment only visits. Work is in progress to bring these 3 offices into line with the others.
Signed Export Health Certificates (EHCs) issued from DAERA Direct offices, e.g. for dairy products, will continue to be posted out to exporters, except where other arrangements have been agreed with your local DAERA Direct office in line with the easing of COVID restrictions for DAERA Direct offices highlighted above. If you require a scanned copy of the signed EHC, please advise us of this on application, using the comments box on DECOL, and providing an appropriate email address, if different to that used on application. Where an easement has been agreed between the UK and a Third Country, there may be changes in how signed Export Health Certificates are issued – check for the latest information on the Third Country EHC Easements Summary Table at the following link: Northern Ireland to third country exports information | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)
Likewise for Third Country certificates that employ the new DEFRA security features. See Crown Gold Paper Removal- Participating Countries and other guidance at the following link: Northern Ireland to third country exports information | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)
Are any export services being stopped?
All applications for export are currently being processed and this will continue to be the case going forward unless the COVID situation changes dramatically. DAERA will update all exporters of any changes, if and when necessary.
I am a farmer /exporter and I will have livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs, horses) ready for export to GB or EU soon. Has the process changed in any way?
You should contact your aPVP in the normal way to make arrangements. You must ensure that your aPVP is able to observe all COVID-19 public health guidelines when carrying out any inspections. Please check the latest guidance from the Public Health Authority.
If you cannot comply with the guidelines, then you should not ask your aPVP to provide export health certification, and the export should be postponed.
If COVID-19 public health guidelines can be met, and your aPVP is able to carry out the inspection, you should make your application in the normal way, ensuring all documentation is submitted electronically, and giving as much notification as possible to allow processing of your application.
On successful completion of all necessary checks, your aPVP will issue you with the original certificate. Alternative arrangements may be put in place to deliver this to you and a scanned copy of the Export Health Certificate may be provided, as required.
Have the conditions for export of my commodity to GB, EU or a Third Country changed in any way?
No. All the current requirements relating to animal and public health still apply. This includes any requirements for animals to be TB tested or blood sampled. The latest DAERA guidance on TB testing is available at:
You will have to ensure that you can meet COVID-19 public health guidelines during inspection and check with your aPVP that they are able to carry out the inspection.
The easements recently agreed with some Third Countries do NOT change the conditions for export.
I am a meat exporter. Can I still get an Export Health Certificate?
Most meat export health certificates (EHCs) are issued from approved establishments where there is a DAERA Veterinary Public Health Programme (VPHP) team on site. There have been no changes to the normal process of application for certificates and certificates will continue to be issued. However there are changes to how signed certificates are issued for some Third countries where an easement has been agreed – see Third Country Easements Summary Table above. Likewise for Third Country certificates that employ the new DEFRA security features. See Crown Gold Paper Removal- Participating Countries and other guidance
However, if you export from a stand-alone establishment, for example, a cutting premises, there may also be changes to how and where you obtain your EHC. Your local VPHP representative will advise you of any changes to the process.
I export dairy products. Has the process changed in any way?
Your application should be made in the normal way, giving as much notice as possible. You may be asked to provide additional supporting documentation, via DECOL, including video evidence of loading of consignments. Completed EHCs will be issued to you by post, except where alternative arrangements have been agreed with your local office.
If you require the original certificate to be posted to an alternative address, please inform us on application.
I am an Authorised Private Veterinary Practitioner (aPVP), can I still collect my export documentation at my local DAERA Direct Office?
At present DAERA Direct offices remain closed to the general public. However, as a result of the easing of COVID restrictions in Northern Ireland and as part of the NI Executive Pathway out of Restriction announced by Minister Edwin Poots recently, DAERA Direct offices re-open to the public from 7 June 2022. Of the 12 regional offices, 9 are currently configured to facilitate visiting without appointment whilst the remaining 3, Coleraine, Dungannon and Strabane offices are currently configured for appointment only visits. Work is in progress to bring these 3 offices into line with the others.
Until DAERA Direct offices reopen as above we will either send export documentation electronically (e.g. TRACES certification to GB and EU , Third Country easement certificates and Third Country certificates using the new DEFRA security measures), post it to you (Third Country export certificates requiring Crown Gold paper), or agree arrangements for collection from your DAERA Direct office where suitable. For Third Country exports on Crown Gold paper, early application by the exporter will allow time for postal delivery to your address if a postal delivery is your preferred method.
The issue of signed certificates may have changed where a Third Country Easement has been agreed – see above.
Likewise for Third Country certificates that employ the new DEFRA security features - see above.
Please ensure your exporter client provides us with appropriate contact details for you, on application.
I am an aPVP, will I still be issued with Veterinary Support Certificate to allow me to issue an Export Health Certificate?
DAERA will continue to issue Veterinary Support Certificates. However, in future, you will receive these electronically, rather than in hard copy format. It will be issued from an @DAERA-ni.gov.uk email address.