Bovine germinal products dispatched after 20 April 2021 from storage centres to the European Union and Northern Ireland: certificate 8403
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-29)

Apply online for an export health certificate (EHC) to export bovine germinal products from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to the EU or move them to Northern Ireland. This certificate includes: bovine semen collected, processed and stored after 20 April 2021; bovine semen collected, processed and stored after 31 December 2004 and before 21 April 2021; bovine semen collected, processed and stored before 1 January 2005; bovine oocytes and embryos collected or produced, processed and stored after 20 April 2021; in vivo derived bovine embryos collected, processed and stored before 21 April 2021; in vitro produced bovine embryos produced, processed and stored before 21 April 2021.

Apply for an export health certificate online

If you’re in England, Scotland or Wales, you must apply for an export health certificate (EHC) using the online service to export bovine germinal products to the EU or to move them to Northern Ireland.

If you’re in Northern Ireland, you do not need an EHC to export to the EU. Contact DAERA on xx-xxxx-xxxx to find out what you need to do.

1. Check what you need for your export

Find out about the requirements for export in the following documents:
- guidance notes (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6900a3f787219d3b21b9aa52/8403NFG_Oct25_v5.pdf)
- specimen certificate (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6900a3e687219d3b21b9aa51/8403_EN_V4_Specimen.pdf)
- Embryos and Oocytes IMC (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68f113b828f6872f1663ef91/Embryo_oocytes_Internal_Movement_Certificate_V4.pdf)
- Guidance notes for IMC 8403 Oocytes and embryos (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68f1134f06e6515f7914c6ee/Oocytes_embryos_IMC_NFG_V3.pdf)
- Semen IMC (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68f113d32f0fc56403a3cfad/Semen_Internal_Movement_Certificate_V4.pdf)
- Guidance notes for IMC 8403 semen (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68f1139ff5d433238a14c6df/Semen_IMC_NFG_V3.pdf)
- Imported germinal products IMC (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68f1141106e6515f7914c6ef/Imported_germinal_products_Internal_Movement_Certificate_V1.pdf)
2. Apply online

You’ll need:
- a Government Gateway account
- a Defra account
If you don’t already have them you’ll need to register for these accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-register-for-export-health-certificate-ehc-online), and so will your official vet or inspector (http://apha.defra.gov.uk/official-vets/Guidance/exports/ehc-online.htm).

Start now (https://exporter.apply-export-health-certificate.service.gov.uk/forms/8403EHC)

Registration takes around 5 minutes. Official vets and inspectors will also need to have their registration checked by APHA.

Register and sign in as an official vet or inspector (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/certify-an-export-health-certificate).

Read the accessibility statement for this service (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/accessibility-statement-for-export-health-certificates-online).

Applying online means you can:
- see the status of your applications
- always use the latest version of the EHC
- copy existing applications
- apply for multiple certificates
Find out more

Stay up to date with any changes to EHCs by signing up for email alerts (https://www.gov.uk/export-health-certificates/email-signup).

Find out about getting an EHC (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-an-export-health-certificate).

Find out about exporting live animals and animal products (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exporting-animals-animal-products-fish-and-fishery-products-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-with-no-deal) from 1 January 2021.

Help with your application

In England, Scotland and Wales, call APHA on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

In Northern Ireland, call DAERA on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges).