Food Export Health Certificates

There are different types of certificates depending on the type of food you wish to export:

• products of animal origin (e.g. meat, dairy, fish, eggs, honey)
• high risk food of non-animal origin
• food not of animal origin

Products of animal origin

Fenland District Council are not able to issue export health certificates for most products of animal origin such as meat and dairy. Products of animal origin will need an export health certificate. This is issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and signed by an Official Veterinarian.

You can find guidance on exporting products of animal origin on GOV.UK

We can issue export health certificates for some fishery products, but the food must be either produced or stored at a registered food business within Fenland.

Export Health Certificates will indicate the officer capable of signing. This will be either an Official Veterinarian (OV) or a Food Competent Certification Officer (FCCO). The council does have an FCCO but not an OV. However, there is no requirement to use the council's services. Defra have a guide available. You are advised to contact the signatory in good time to discuss the process, the time required, and the fees.

It is the responsibility of the exporter to make sure they have applied for the necessary Export Health Certificate.

High risk food of non-animal origin

High risk food of non-animal origin (HRFNAO) is food which presents a risk to human health due to contamination by aflatoxins, pesticides, salmonella or dioxins.

The majority of HRFNAO is imported from countries outside the EU into GB, and then reexported to the EU or moved to Northern Ireland.

You can find guidance on exporting HRFNAO on GOV.UK

We can provide official certification for HRFNAO.

Food not of animal origin

We can issue a food export certificate or food safety premises endorsement for export for products not of animal origin. We can provide an export certificate to attest that foods not of animal origin are produced according to legislative standards.

This type of certificate attests to the premises and provides basic information around the product consignment. It generally accompanies exports to third countries and exports to the EU and NI. It is your responsibility to ensure that the wording on the certificate will be accepted by the country that you export to.

We cannot include wording on an export certificate that verifies the safety of the individual batch or consignment of food. Our wording normally reflects that:

• your foodstuffs are produced or stored in premises subject to our jurisdiction as a food authority
• the premises have been subject to a satisfactory inspection

Charges 

Certificates cost £102.00 an hour. 

Additional charges

Should the food in question need sampling in line with current food safety law requirements the sampling charge will be passed onto the applicant.

Additional information

• Your business must either be registered or approved by Fenland District Council to apply for a Food Export Certificate.  We will not supply a certificate if this is not the case.
• We shall always try and incorporate the wording indicated on your form, but we obviously cannot include wording that implies that we vouch for the safety of the individual batch/consignment of food. Our wording normally reflects the fact that your foodstuffs are produced and stored in premises subject to our jurisdiction as a food authority, and which have been subject to a satisfactory inspection programme. 
• We reserve the right to decline to issue a certificate if your premises, hygiene standards and or practices fail to meet current food safety standards. 
• Officers may want to inspect a consignment of the food before the certificate is issued. 
• Please allow at least 7 working days for the application and issue of export certificate. Should sampling of the food be required the application and issue of certificate could take up to 20 working days.
• For further advice contact Dawn Sadler on 01354 622492. Alternatively email envhealth@fenland.gov.uk or dsadler@fenland.gov.uk

Apply for a Food Export Health certificate from the Council

Apply for a Food Export Health Certificate