Search our website enhanced by Google.
New export health certificates, don’t get caught out
Friday, 3 September 2021
By Chris Gooderham
In early August, the EU announced a delay to the introduction of new export health certificates. The new certificates were due to be introduced from 21 August, but the delay has now pushed this back until 15 January 2022.
The new certificates are needed after the EU adopted the Animal Health Law back in 2016, bringing new regulations into EU law including “Product of Animal Origin” exports from the UK. That means dairy exports are subject to a new requirement that milk must be from an animal that has been in the country for a minimum of 3 months. This has implications for farmers selling milk from imported cows. After 15 January 2022, if a farmer imports a dairy cow, they cannot use milk from that cow in any product that is going to be exported to the EU for three months.
According to BCMS data, there has been a drop off in the number of 2+ year old dairy cows being imported. In the six months from Jan to Jun 2021, an average of 607 dairy cows were imported per month, down 22% on the same period last year. However, much of that drop comes from the initial Brexit shock in January, where imports were just 354 head.
Despite the delay in the EU introducing the new certificates, farmers looking to import in-milk dairy cows need to be wary of the three-month milking restriction. We would strongly recommend talking to your milk buyer to ascertain whether your milk is destined for the EU. If so, the risk is milk from an imported cow will need to be held back once the new certificates come into play.
Subscribe to our Dairy Market Weekly newsletter and receive market updates in your inbox every Thursday
Sign up to receive the latest information from AHDB.
While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.
All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.