Although the import regulations for animal by-products entering the EU are harmonized, the export of animal by-products is still agreed on an individual country basis. This means that the export certificates and regulations in the EU have not been harmonized yet.
Let’s take for example, Germany and UK:
A shipment of Fetal Bovine Serum originating from Brazil will enter both countries with the same certificate (Model Chapter 4C or 4D). However, if the same Fetal Bovine Serum has to be exported to one and the same non-EU country later, the United Kingdom and Germany will have to agree individually with the country of destination about the content of the export veterinary certificate.
For the export of animal by-products to a foreign country, there may already exist an official Model Export Health Certificate that has been agreed upon between the exporting EU country and the importing foreign country. The agreement regarding a certain Model Certificate is made on a governmental level and the agreed certificates are considered official documents.
Export Health Certificates do not necessarily exist for every animal by-product and for every possible destination country because nobody may have ever tried to export that product to a specific foreign country before. In such cases, and also in cases when the importer has an import permit setting the exact import conditions and statements to be made, the exporting EU country will prepare an Export Health Certificate on a case-to-case basis.
Of course, the veterinary health conditions of the exporting country and the statements provided on already existing certificates must comply with the import requirements of the country of importation.
To find out more about your specific import - export case please contact us for a consultation.
