Export Health Certificates

Ashford Borough Council can issue certain export certificates to support businesses trading food abroad, but this depends on the type of product being exported. In general, the council’s Food and Health & Safety team can provide certificates (such as Free Sale Certificates or hygiene attestations) for foods that are not of animal origin, or where only confirmation of food safety standards and registration with the local authority is required. 

However, where the product contains animal-derived ingredients (such as meat, dairy, eggs or fish), most countries require a formal Export Health Certificate. These certificates include animal health and disease control statements and must be signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) rather than the Council. In these cases, businesses will need to apply through the national export certification system (Apply for an export certificate - GOV.UK), and the Council may only be able to provide supporting information if requested.

Register your business for online export health certificates (EHC)

To apply for an EHC, exporting businesses need to register for an EHC Online account and use the service to apply for and manage their applications. You will need to follow the link below which will enable you to set up your account.

Search for a specific EHC

The government website enables you to search for specific EHCs. You can narrow the search by selecting the destination country or specifying the commodity type.

Apply for an export health certificate