Since the launch of the Livestock Information Service in March 2022, many enhancements have been made to the platform. One of the most significant developments was launched in December 2023, following the introduction of a Veterinary Statutory Health Attestation to facilitate GB to EU exports. This new requirement meant that all keepers producing livestock, products derived from livestock, or livestock and products intended for export to the EU, needed to have a Veterinary Statutory Health Attestation, also known as a Vet Attestation (VA), if not already covered by a qualifying farm assurance scheme.

Livestock Information Ltd were commissioned by the Livestock Information Transformation Programme within Defra to develop a digital solution for sheep farmers to provide evidence of their VA status and the associated Veterinary Attestation Number (VAN).

The digital capability, launched by Livestock Information in December 2023, meant that RCVS registered vets were able to mark a sheep keeper’s CPH as having had a valid VA using the Livestock Information Service (LIS). In addition, abattoirs are able to easily access and verify the VA status of a holding or an individual animal, ensuring compliance with export requirements.

A year on since the development and launch of this digital solution and over 40% of practising farm vets have recorded an attestation via the Livestock Information Service, with more than 2,400 holdings having been attested. Livestock Information continue to make improvements to this digital capability, and in early 2025 the Sheep & Goat Movement Document available on LIS will be updated to align with the current LIS-1 paper form. It will have the added capability of automatically populating the VAN section, provided the attestation has been recorded on LIS by a veterinarian, highlighting the validity of a VA status.

Click here to visit the Vet Attestation page on the Support Hub for access to an array of useful resources for both vets and abattoirs, including videos, guides and FAQs.