Milk and milk product exports

Before you start

Requirements Depending on Destination

GB Trade

Movement of dairy product or ingredients from NI to GB does not require certification. However if those products are due to be further processed and exported from GB to EU/NI, then a support health attestation (SHA) may be required.

The GB importer should liaise with their GB certifying officer to establish the requirements and inform the NI exporter of those.

More information on this process is available here: Moving Product. When do you need a Support Health Attestation (SHA)

Please note that applications for SHAs should be made on the SHA online system only.

EU Trade

Exports of milk or dairy products to an EU Member State do not require an Export Health Certificate (EHC).

If the importer of NI dairy products in an EU Member State intends to export the dairy ingredients or product onwards to a third country outside the EU, then the EU importer may require a backing certificate, EHC 0001, which is available here: 

Export Health Certificates (EHCs) and Background Certificates (BCs) not available on Form Finder.

You will use DECS to make the applications for these certificates.

Third Country Trade

Third Country trade describes trade outside the EU.

Where a third country has agreed to accept dairy product from the UK, an Export Health Certificate (EHC) and its associated Guidance are in place to facilitate the movement.

You will use DECS to make an online application for third country EHCs, and will need to know the 4 digit EHC reference number when beginning the application process.

You will be prompted to complete the current version of the EHC on DECS and must upload the current versions of the required Exporter Declaration and any other supporting documents being provided.

If the consignment will be transiting Türkiye, additional certification is required. Details can be found here: Export Consignments transiting Türkiye.

Identifying an EHC

To identify which EHC you require for your export, you should visit Form Finder. Guidance on using the Form Finder tool is available in the DECS exporters instructions.

Where Guidance is available beside the certificate, please read it carefully, including the Scope within it, to check that the EHC applies to your commodity.

Please note that there are a small number of third countries for which EHCs and associated Guidance Notes are not available on Form Finder. These are available on the DAERA website, via the link below, and will be completed during the DECS online application process:

Export Health Certificates (EHCs) and Background Certificates (BCs) not available on Form Finder.

Irrespective of the source of the EHC, you may wish to download a copy of your selected form to assist when completing the EHC application via DECS.

If an EHC is not available, please contact Trade.Exports@daera-ni.gov.uk for advice.

You should also check if you need to obtain import permits or importing authority approvals. Where needed, these should be obtained from the importing authorities before applying for an EHC and uploaded along with all other application supporting documents via DECS.

If you need help to complete an application for an EHC please contact your local DAERA Direct Office for assistance.

Please be aware that some third countries require that the dairy manufacturing establishment(s) is(are) approved by the third country as well as the EU. In these cases, the process to gain third country approval usually takes months to complete. Where required, an Export Health Certificate cannot be completed until this is in place.

Further information regarding third country certification for all commodities may be found at Northern Ireland to Third Country Exports Information.

If you decide to provide a Supplementary Statement or require a Schedule for additional space, you must also upload these documents during the DECS application process.

Schedule for Additional Product Information

If there is insufficient space on the EHC application to record full product details you will need to complete a schedule and submit this during the DECS application process. 

The schedule and instructions for completion are available using the link below:

• Schedule for additional product information

Seals: Guidance for Remote Certification for Dairy Exports

Dairy exporters should be aware of the procedure that exporters are required to follow for seal numbers that are inserted on EHCs. Seal numbers may need to be removed from EHCs if the required supporting evidence is not provided. 

Please follow the link below for more detailed guidance.

• DAERA Remote Certification Seal Guidance

Supplementary Statements

These are not official requirements of the importing authorities.

It is up to the exporter to decide if they want to upload one or more of these. If so, please complete and upload the statement(s) during the DECS application process.

If you need an accompanying Supplementary Statement(s) you should review the guidance below:

• Guidance on selecting a supplementary Statement

There are six supplementary certificates available to support your dairy export. These are:

• Radiation Statement
• Dioxin Statement
• Statement of freesale and manufacture
• Microbiological and chemical analysis Statement
• Quality analysis Statement
• General analysis Statement

Exporter’s Declaration

There are 2 Exporter’s declarations, one for export of Raw Milk to ROI and one for all other dairy products. Please select the appropriate declaration for your exporter using the link below:

• Milk exporter's declaration