Non-assured producers reminded of need for vet attestation visit

Non-assured producers are reminded that if you have not yet received a vet attestation visit, your business could soon be restricted. 

In a change introduced from December 13, 2023, producers must be able to demonstrate that a veterinary visit has taken place in the past 12 months when sending animals to market or slaughter.

Membership of qualifying assurance schemes, including Red Tractor, or having a Pig Pathway visit, for England only, is deemed as meeting the requirement. A vet attestation visit can be combined with any farm visit as long as the criteria have been met.  

However, if you are not part of a qualifying assurance scheme and have not yet received a vet attestation visit and ‘Vet Attestation Number’ (VAN), your business will now be impacted if your livestock or animal products derived from your livestock enters the food chain and may be exported to the EU.

Exports to the EU will be stopped for livestock, livestock products and 5th quarter products, from producers who do not provide a VAN or membership number of a qualifying farm assurance scheme.

For further information please see:

• Defra Q&A and other info: https://ahdb.org.uk/exports;
• Farm assurance schemes: evidence of vet visits - GOV.UK;
• Veterinary attestation for animal health visits - GOV.UK