Guide to completion of your 2021 DAFM Animal Health Certificate

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) requires that all dairy producers in the Republic of Ireland submit an Animal Health Certificate annually to their milk processor to allow milk collection.

It is recommended that you return your completed certificate as soon as your vet has completed it following your annual herd test – this will ensure it doesn’t get mislaid. Certificates must be returned by 30th November 2021 to allow processing before year-end.

Guidelines

• The 2021 GI Milk Purchasing Policy informs suppliers that fines can be applied where a certificate has not been returned within 14 months of last certification date. This is to encourage the submission of certificates in-line with DAFM requirements.

• We recommend you read fully the DAFM coversheets for details on how to fill out the certificate with your vet. Please note the paragraph related to data protection on the front cover of the 2021 certificate. Please contact DAFM directly with any queries ref same.

• Return the white copies of pages 1 and 3 directly to The Milk Office using the enclosed free post envelope or directly to your Milk Quality Manager.

• Page 2 should only be submitted if there are animals identified by the vet as non-compliant during their inspection. The vet will complete this if necessary.

• You do not need to submit an individual animal tag list, but you must note the number of cows submitted to the vet for examination on page 3, and the vet must also note that number on page 1. These numbers must match.

• You must sign page 3 either on the same day as the vet signs page 1 or before the date signed by the vet.

• Please only return to GI the white copies of the form, the other copies should be retained by yourself and your vet. You will need these for your Bord Bia SDAS audit.

PAGE 1

• Fill in your name, address, herd number(s), supplier number(s) clearly.

• Your vet must note the number of cows he is certifying as suitable for milk production on this page. This must match the number you have noted on page 3.

• Your vet should fill in the vet section, signing it and dating it on the day that they inspected the cows on your farm. The date of the vet signature must match or be after the date of your signature.

PAGE 3

• Fill in your name, address, herd number(s), supplier number(s) clearly.

• Write in the number of cows that are being submitted to the vet for inspection re suitability for milk production on this page. The vet then also records the number on page 1.

• You must sign this page on the same day EITHER on the same day as the vet signs page 1 OR before the date signed by the vet.
 

REMINDER: The individual animal ID Tag list is no longer required - please note the number of cows being submitted for inspection on page 1 and page 3.

• Please return the white copy of the completed certificate using the enclosed free post envelope or to the DAFM Veterinary Certificate, Milk Office Department, Glanbia Agribusiness, Kilkenny Business Park, Purcellsinch, Co. Kilkenny R95 E7OV by 30 November 2021.

 • This date is key to allow processing of the certificates before year-end.

If you have any queries please contact your local Milk Quality Manager.