Export Health Certificate Guidance

We strongly recommend speaking with a transport agent to discuss your requirements in plenty of time ahead of when you wish to export. This enables adequate time for pre-export blood tests to be run and results received, as well as for the paperwork to be completed by the Official Veterinarian. 

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While we understand sometimes the exporting of horses can be very last minute, it is crucial to know that you are unable to export a horse without valid blood results. Tests required for exporting horses varies depending on destination, but as a guide:

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EIA Coggins Testing - turnaround time of 2-5 working days (does not include weekends) - applicable for destinations within the EU. This is an overnight test, and results physically cannot be available in less than 2 days.

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Dourine, Coggins, Glanders, Piro IFAT and Piro cElisa* - full results of all tests require a turnaround time of 7 working days (does not include weekends) - applicable for travel to USA. 

* Piro CFT testing also required but unable to run in the UK. Please discuss this with either the office or your transport agent.

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A fast track service is available for an additional charge, however, this does not reduce the turnaround time, but instead speeds up the reporting of results.

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Your transport agent will ask who your nominated Official Veterinarian is and their practice. Our OV is Maria Natalia Mollon Cucci MRCVS.

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Your agent will apply for the papers via the APHA Vet Gateway, and they will become available to us some time thereafter. 

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Once we are able to access the papers, we will cross check the horse's passport details on the paper with the passport. Whilst most transporters provide us with photos of the horse's passport, we may ask you for images. 

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We will then 'draft' the papers. This involves carefully reading each page, and making selections by manually crossing out parts of the paper that are/are not applicable to the horse. The OV will add in your blood test results sample date at this stage. If we are not the sampling vet, please email us a copy of your negative results as soon as you have them as to not delay the process.

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Once drafted, the papers are emailed to the transport agent to send for pre-approval at the port of entry.

Either on the day of travel, day before travel or last working day before travel (whichever is most feasible with your export date), our OV vet will stamp, date and sign the export papers. These are then scanned by the office to be emailed to the transport agent.

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The OV will check each horse before dropping off the papers, to ensure they are fit for export. The OV will then let the office know if all horses are fit for travel, and the papers will be emailed to the transport agent for approval once again at the port of entry.

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Occasionally, there may need to be amendments to Export Health Certificates. We reserve the right to charge an administration fee, per horse, per paper for amendments, as well as a visit fee.

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You cannot travel without these export papers. Do not leave the premises or start your journey until papers are received.