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GREEN LEVEL INVESTORS IN THE ENVIRONMENT ACCREDITATION FOR OAKHILL VETS!

GREEN LEVEL INVESTORS IN THE ENVIRONMENT ACCREDITATION FOR OAKHILL VETS!

In 2022, Oakhill Vets embarked on its journey toward accreditation with Investors in the Environment (iiE), a national environmental accreditation scheme. The iiE program is designed to help organisations save time and money, minimise their environmental impact, and gain recognition for their sustainability efforts. The scheme focuses on four key areas of sustainable development: Leadership and Governance, Climate Change, Nature and Natural Resources, and Pollution and Waste.

Vet Lisa, Oakhill’s ‘Sustainability Lead,’ has been spearheading these efforts alongside sustainability champions, the wider staff team, and the directors. After a period of extensive reporting and planning, Oakhill had its second ‘Sustainability Audit’, and we are proud to announce that we achieved Green Level accreditation with an impressive score of 77%, skipping the Silver Level entirely!

To reach the Green Level, we demonstrated continuous improvement by implementing our Environmental Management System (EMS), achieving a minimum 2% efficiency improvement year after year. We have shown measurable success and progress, promoting sustainable development throughout our organisation and value chain while preparing for net-zero emissions and beyond. This includes:

  • Expanding the scope of environmental initiatives
  • Managing the environmental impact of work-related travel
  • Evaluating and greening our supply chain
  • Setting ambitious carbon reduction goals
  • Undertaking meaningful sustainability projects
  • Regularly reporting progress to stakeholders

At the Green Level, our focus has shifted toward broader sustainability efforts across the entire organisation, including sustainable procurement practices and addressing carbon emissions throughout our value chain.

In our audit report iiE said:
“Bronze Level Accreditation was achieved in 2023 by the practice, and although Oakhill Vets was aiming to achieve Silver Level Accreditation in this year’s audit, Green Level has been awarded. This is due to the extensive actions implemented which address usage of all resources, improvement in data collection, and the way sustainability has become embedded to form an integral part of the practice’s business approach. Further, the wider team show passion for changes, actively contributing ideas and taking ownership of sustainability projects in various areas across the practice. Work on projects this year has also been exemplary, and far surpasses the requirements of both Silver and Green Level Accreditation, as well as covering all three project areas: resource use/management, environment, and social/wellbeing.

“The practice has worked hard to establish a strong EMS over the past two years: Oakhill Vets should now seek to build on this in key areas, such as water management and introducing planned actions around travel. The practice is now in a good position to begin work to form an early draft for a long-term plan to clearly illustrate how its Net Zero by 2040 goal will be achieved. In the meantime, data collection should continue to be strengthened now that more reliable sources have been identified, which will support monitoring of performance when working towards the overall Net Zero target.”

OAKHILL VETS CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS

OAKHILL VETS CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS

This year marks Oakhill Vets 50th anniversary, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this momentous milestone!

It’s been quite a journey since 1974 – what began as a one-vet practice founded by Barry Johnson, now employs 130+ people over three divisions and three sites. We are proud to have achieved this remarkable development and growth, all whilst remaining fiercely independent.

On this special occasion, we take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and most importantly the positive impact we have made to our patients and clients’ lives. We have consistently pushed boundaries and delivered exceptional care, while upholding our core values.

“Oakhill Vets remains dedicated to delivering the very best veterinary care to the local community,” said Tony Barry, CEO. “As we move forward into the future, we are excited for the next phase of developments which will enable us to continue to be at the forefront of animal care. We will continue to invest in the future, both in terms of technology and people.

“Our success is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and talent exhibited by our incredible team. It is due to their commitment and passion that we have reached this significant milestone. We recognise the positive impact we can make to the profession through supporting ongoing professional development and working with local universities and colleges, offering work experience to the next generation of vets.”

We have chosen StreetVet as our charity of the year and money raised from events throughout the year will go towards helping them to deliver free, essential veterinary care and service to people experiencing homelessness in the UK.

INVESTORS IN THE ENVIRONMENT AWARD: ACHIEVING ‘BRONZE’, AND HEADING FOR SILVER!

INVESTORS IN THE ENVIRONMENT AWARD: ACHIEVING ‘BRONZE’, AND HEADING FOR SILVER!

Last year, Oakhill Vets started our journey working towards ‘bronze’ accreditation with Investors in the Environment (iiE).

Investors in the Environment is a national sustainability accreditation that supports organisations to develop an ‘environmental management system’ that focuses on four key areas of sustainable development: Leadership and Governance, Climate Change, Nature and Natural Resources, and Pollution and Waste.

Being kind to the environment has always been a part of Oakhill’s ethos and working towards iiE accreditation has been a fantastic way to formalise our commitment to the environment. In working towards this accreditation, we wanted to challenge ourselves to make Oakhill’s operations as sympathetic as possible to people and the planet. It has given us the structure to hold ourselves accountable to reducing our carbon footprint and developing sustainable practices.

The accreditation has three levels – bronze, silver, and green. Achieving the bronze award is all about identifying resources that our company is going to measure and creating a base-line-year of data for these resources. As well as this, we needed to radicalise our environmental and sustainability policy, to include bolder aims, create a waste management plan, and produce a robust sustainability action plan, to set out a roadmap to achieving our sustainability goals.

Vet Lisa is the ‘Sustainability Lead’ at Oakhill, and she has been working hard, alongside the project’s sustainability champions, the wider staff team, and our directors, to complete all the necessary work to achieve this accreditation. After a busy period of reporting and planning, Oakhill had its ‘Sustainability Audit’ with the iiE team in October, and we’re very proud to announce that we achieved ‘bronze’ accreditation!

Next steps…

The next step is to begin working towards achieving ‘silver’ accreditation. This will build upon all the work we have done for the bronze accreditation and deepen our commitment to treating the planet with love, turning our sustainability goals into habits and practices. We are looking forward to the challenge!!

EHC Online (EHCO) – What’s New?

Export Health Certificates Online is a new web-based service for the application and issuing of EHCs from GB to third countries. We have been dealing with this new system for a number of months on a limited number of certificates but as of 21/08/2020 the service has been extended to a greater number of EHCs. Online application for EHCs that are available through EHCO is now mandatory and the number of EHCs available via EHCO is likely to increase significantly in the next 12 months.

The list of EHCs that need to be applied for through EHCO as of 03/08/2020 can be found here: https://www.oakhill-vets.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/EHCO.pdf

To summarise the process:

  1. The exporting company needs to register as an ‘exporter’ via the Government Gateway portal.
  2.  The exporter then makes an online application for the relevant EHC – unlike previously there is no PDF to email to APHA and no EXA form to complete although you will have to fill in a series of questions similar to those found on the old EXA forms.
  3. Select Oakhill as the ‘certifier’
  4. As the exporter you will be able to view all your applications on the online dashboard (a similar dashboard is available to us to view all the EHCs that have been assigned to us). In addition, each application should have a status assigned depending on whether it is being processed by APHA (Processing), sent to Oakhill (Dispatched) or signed off by us following completion (Completed).

The actual inspection and certification process that then involves us is very similar to before. A signed and stamped original EHC must still accompany the consignment and we need to keep a ‘certified copy’ of all EHCs at the practice.

An additional change worth noting is that ‘Cancel & Replace’ certificates will now need to be requested by the certifier rather than the organisation that applied for the original EHC.

Further information is available through the APHA website: http://apha.defra.gov.uk/official-vets/Guidance/exports/ehc-online.htm

EHC changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

EHC’s to third countries are usually printed on Crown Vellum Watermarked security paper, due to reduced processing capacity the government has agreed with a number of countries to allow the printing of certificates on plain white paper. The EHC will be sent to the Certifying Officer by email to print. This currently applies to four countries Australia, Gibraltar, South Africa and USA, but more countries may be added. Please inform the importer or consignee of this change to the EHC’s as appropriate to avoid any unnecessary confusion.

As always we are happy to discuss your export requirements and how our team can help during these challenging times.

Product Exports during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The current COVID-19 pandemic has changed many of the ways business is conducted over the last 6 weeks. Product export inspection and certification can present challenges in terms of safely carrying out the necessary checks and paperwork whilst maintain social distancing. APHA have stated that remote certification is not appropriate on any consignments beyond those already specifically authorised. This means that inspections of consignments will need to continue as they have previously. 

Here at Oakhill Vets we are regularly dealing with infectious disease control for our large animal clients and understand how to protect your staff and business whilst carrying out the appropriate work in order to certify your consignment. This may include the use of PPE and completing paperwork offsite where appropriate following a discussion of your individual circumstances. 

As always we are happy to discuss your export requirements and how our team can help during these challenging times.

No Deal Brexit

Exporting animals and animal products in a no-deal Brexit…

In the event of a no deal Brexit all export to the EU will require Export health certificate (EHC), which will need applying for in advance. Export health certificate can be found on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/export-health-certificates

Goods may require checks at border inspection posts (BIP), which are currently being built in preparation for leaving the EU. If your product is required to go through a BIP it will occur at the first EU country it enters. You will have to ensure the BIP can accept your product type and that your EU based import agents has notified them (through the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES)) when your consignment is arriving (verifying with the BIP, beforehand, how much notification they will require). Check the list of existing EU BIPs, and the products they accept, as your trade route may need redirecting.

If your product isn’t required to go through a BIP, ensure your EU based import agent notifies the competent authority of the EU state of the products destination and the EU port/airport, within the time limits set out by the competent authority.

For exporting to the EU you will have to comply with wider HMRC guidance on custom requirements:

  • Your business needs a EORI (economic operator registration and identification) number that starts with GB
  • You need to check your imported has an EU EORI number. If you are exporting to your own business within the EU you will need to get an EU EORI number from customs authority in any EU country.
  • Decide who will make the export declaration (will you do it yourself or hire someone – this will involve submitting a customs declaration https://www.gov.uk/guidance/customs-declarations-for-goods-taken-out-of-the-eu?step-by-step-nav=e169b2ac-8c90-4789-8e6c-3657729e21b2)
  • Decide if you want to export your goods using transit, you may be able to use common transit convention to simplify how your goods pass-through customs and when your importer pays customs duties.
  • Check the rate of tax and duty for your goods
  • Check what you need to do for the type of goods you export
  • Find out how changes to VAT will affect you
  • Decide who will transport your goods outside the UK

There is unlikely to be any change to exporting products to non-EU countries. However, if the product transit through the EU you will need both an EU transit certificated and EHC for the final destination. You will also need an EU importer who will take responsibility for the consignment while transiting the EU.

The European Commission will vote, before Brexit, whether to list the UK as a third country and allow exports of live animals, POAO (products of animal origin) and ABPs (animal by products).

You will need to be listed as an approved establishment with the EU if you:

  • Export POAO incl. red/white meat, fish/ fish products, dairy or egg products.
  • Some live animals and ABPs direct to the EU
  • Supply other UK establishments that export their goods to the EU

The current list of UK ABPs premises will be accepted in a no deal Brexit.

Documents for transport issued by the UK will only be valid in the UK and NOT in the EU.

If you wish to discuss further, please get in touch with our Export Team.

Please visit the following link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exporting-animals-animal-products-fish-and-fishery-products-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-with-no-deal

Brexit – a ‘no deal’ scenario?

A scenario in which the UK leaves the EU without agreement (a ‘no deal’ scenario) remains unlikely, however, it’s important to prepare for all eventualities, including ‘no deal’, until we can be certain of the outcome of negotiations.

Below is some information about what is needed in a ‘no deal’ scenario, so informed plans and preparations can be made.

Before 29 March 2019 – ‘no deal’ in place….

  • To export animal products and live animals to countries outside the EU, exporters must apply for, and be issued with, an Export Health Certificate (EHC).
  • Different rules apply to trade between countries within the EU. Exporting live animals and some very specific animal products (such as germplasm) requires exporters to provide either an EHC or, more generally, an EU-specific version of an EHC known as an Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC). For all other animal products, no certification is required and no specific processes must be followed.
  • To obtain EHCs and ITAHCs, exporters contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), in Northern Ireland they contact the Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA), providing details of the consignment, its destination and travel arrangements, as well as their preferred Official Veterinarian or authorised signatory to certify their products. APHA or DAERA issues a paper EHC for the exporter to provide to the country of import.
  • There are additional requirement when transporting live vertebrate animals for commercial or economic activity. For all journeys, the transporter must hold a valid Transporter Authorisation and drivers and attendants must hold a Certificate of Competence. For journeys over eight hours within the EU, vehicles must also have a valid vehicle approval certificate. Transporter Authorisations, Certificates of Competence and Vehicle Approval Certificates must be issued by an EU country. For journeys over eight hours where farm livestock and unregistered horses will be transported, the transporter must also hold a Journey Log.

After March 2019 if there’s ‘no deal’….

  • EHCs would be required for exports of all animal products and live animals from the UK to the EU. Consignments would need to travel through a Border Inspection Post (BIP) within the EU. EHCs would need to be signed by an Official Veterinarian or authorised signatory following inspection of the consignment.
  • Requirements for trade to third countries outside the EU should not change. However changes would be required to the wording of the documentation, which would need to be agreed with the destination country, to reflect the fact the UK would no longer be a member of the EU.
  • The EU would require the UK to be a listed third country. In the unlikely event of a ‘no deal’ scenario, the UK would apply for this status but cannot be certain of the EU response or its timing.

Transporter Authorisation, Certificates of Competence, vehicle approval and Journey Logs

  • The EU would also no longer recognise transport authorisations, certificates of competence, or vehicle approval certificates issued by the UK.
  • UK transporters wishing to transport live animals in the EU would need to appoint a representative within an EU country and apply to their relevant government department to obtain a valid Transporter Authorisation, Certificate of Competence, Vehicle Approval Certificate and, where necessary, a Journey Log. Journey logs would need to be obtained from the EU country that is the initial point of entry into the EU for export. Exporters would need to present their transport documentation at a Border Inspection Post in the EU.
  • UK-issued transport documentation would remain valid for transport within the UK only.

For further information, please see the following useful links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exporting-animals-and-animal-products-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/exporting-animals-and-animal-products-if-theres-no-brexit-deal

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-governments-preparations-for-a-no-deal-scenario