Accessibility Statement - DAERA Export Certificates

For example, that means you should be able to:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts using browser or device settings
• zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
• navigate most of the website using a keyboard or speech recognition software
• listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

The application was tested using the Pet Exports user journey, however this Accessibility Statement encompasses the following versions of the application:

• Live Animal Exports
• Pet Exports
• Milk and Milk Product Exports
• Animal Products and Animal By-Products Exports
• Fish and Seafood Product Exports for Human Consumption
• Egg and Egg Products Exports
• Zoo, exotic and other animal Exports
• Balai, zoo and exotic animal Exports

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website aren't fully accessible:

• Orphaned form labels - A form label is present, but it is not correctly associated with a form control.
• Missing form label - A form control does not have a corresponding label. 
• All page content should be contained by landmarks.
• Broken ARIA reference - An aria-labelledby or aria-describedby reference exists, but the target for the reference does not exist.
• Fieldset missing legend - If a higher level description is necessary for the user to understand the function or purpose of the controls within the fieldset, provide this description within the legend.
• When screen orientation is changed it causes an empty dropdown menu to appear.
• Word document linked - Ensure that the Word document is accessible. Additionally, inform the user that the link will open a Word document.

Feedback and contact information

If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact the DAERA Helpline who will direct you towards the correct branch or division.

• email daera.helpline@daera-ni.gov.uk
• call 0300 200 7852

You can also contact the DAERA Helpline if you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille.

If you have a hearing difficulty you can contact DAERA via Text Relay using the Next Generation Text Service (NGTS). Making a call from a textphone dial 18001 + number. Making a call from a telephone dial 18002 + number.

There are also various Text to Speech applications available to use

If you cannot view the map on our contact us page, call or email us for directions.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact contact the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI).

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

DAERA is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

The website has been tested against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

• Oprhaned form labels - A form label is present, but it is not correctly associated with a form control. (2.4.6 Headings and Labels)
• Missing form label - A form control does not have a corresponding label. If a form control does not have a properly associated text label, the function or purpose of that form control may not be presented to screen reader users. (2.4.6 Headings and Labels)
• Broken ARIA reference - An aria-labelledby or aria-describedby reference exists, but the target for the reference does not exist. Ensure the element referenced in the aria-labelledby or aria-describedby attribute value is present within the page and presents a proper label or description. (4.1.2 Name, Role, Value)
• Fieldset missing legend - If a higher level description is necessary for the user to understand the function or purpose of the controls within the fieldset, provide this description within the <legend>. If this description or grouping is not necessary, the fieldset should probably be removed. (1.1.1 non-text content)
• When screen orientation is changed it causes an empty dropdown menu to appear. (1.3.4 Orientation)
• All page content should be contained within landmarks. (4.1.2 Name, Role, Value)

Disproportionate burden

• Not applicable

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

This application uses mapping functionality and imagery extensively. Maps are one of the items which are excepted from the accessibility legislation, provided essential information is provided in other ways. However, we will attempt to make the functionality of map viewers as accessible as possible within these limitations.

PDFs and other documents

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. For example, we do not plan to fix [example of non-essential document].

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

DAERA is actively engaged in improving the accessibility of its applications. As part of our 'UX Checklist', we require developers to design software with accessibility compliance built in. In those circumstances where compliance cannot be met, reasons for this should be documented, along with steps for addressing issues. We also endeavour to carry out user research to ascertain user requirements and conduct usability workshopping before launching new applications.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 02 August 2022. It was last reviewed on 08 January 2025.

This website was last tested on 08 January 2025 against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard.

The test was carried out by DAERA Digital Services Division.

We tested the following pages:

• Application type
• Application route
• Document upload
• Vet Practice
• Confirmation

We chose to test those pages which were most commonly used, and most representative of the general functionality and layout of the web application. Sample pages were tested for code compliance using the Axe and WAVE testing tools. The pages also underwent manual testing to ensure they adhered to the four Accessibility principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust). We also test using NVDA screenreader, and Adobe Acrobat Accessibility Checker (where applicable).

The full accessibility test report can be made available on request.