Authorised Private Veterinary Practitioners for Trade

Authorised Private Veterinary Practitioners for Trade (formerly Authorised Veterinary Inspectors (AVIs)) are private veterinary surgeons, practising in Northern Ireland, authorised by the Department to carry out export certification duties on its behalf.

Duties carried out

A private veterinary surgeon cannot carry out any export functions until they are authorised as an aPVP. At present the scope of aPVP authorisation includes the following range of export certification duties:

export of ruminating animals and swine
export of cats, dogs and certain other mammals
export of equine animals
export of semen embryos
export of birds, poultry and hatching eggs
export of certain animal products/by-products
export of materials (including skins and hides)
export of laboratory animals
export of zoo animals
export of table eggs to third countries (only by those aPVPs who have attended the additional training related to the export of products of animal origin to the EU)

Conditions for authorisation

To satisfy the conditions of authorisation as an aPVP, a person must:

be a UK Practising or Southern Irish member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, practising in Northern Ireland
satisfy the Department that he/she is aligned with an established practice of which at least one of the Principals is an authorised aPVP
confirm that they satisfy the RCVS requirement in the Guide to Professional Conduct to have sufficient insurance indemnity for the work they undertake
attend and satisfactorily complete the appropriate training courses and exercises, as required for initial authorisation and for maintenance of authorisation.

Applying to become an aPVP

Please follow the link below to access an aPVP application form:

Apply to become an aPVP

Finding an aPVP

If you require the services of an aPVP for export certification purposes please use the A-Z list of Northern Ireland Veterinary Practices which have aPVPs associated with their practices. You should contact your preferred practice(s) and discuss with them directly your certification requirements.

Keeping Up To Date

Follow this link to view the updates and briefing notes issued to aPVPs;

aPVP Updates and Briefing Notes