Export groups of products using the Groupage Export Facilitation Scheme (GEFS)
Guidance on using the GEFS, which allows 30-day support attestations that cover an entire group of products for export.
The Groupage Export Facilitation Scheme (GEFS) facilitates the health certification of products intended for groupage export to, or transit through, the European Union (EU) or movement to Northern Ireland by using time-limited support attestations.
The scheme does not remove or change the requirement for each consignment to be accompanied by its own export health certificate (EHC). It is designed to facilitate the process for Certifying Officers (COs) to obtain some of the relevant information needed to complete the EHC.
What changes under the GEFS scheme
Usually, products of animal origin (POAO) must be inspected at the manufacturing plant on every day of production, by an Official Veterinarian (OV), or Food Competent Certifying Officers (FCCOs) in some circumstances. This confirms health and traceability requirements have been met. The OV or FCCO issues a support attestation (SA) that covers products made that day.
The Groupage Export Facilitation Scheme allows OVs and FCCOs to make just one visit a month and issue an SA that covers all products made for the following 30 calendar days. The manufacturer then provides further information to the exporter’s Certifying Officer (CO) through a batch declaration.
Scheme requirements
To use the scheme you need to:
- join the Groupage Export Facilitation Scheme (GEFS)
- use manufacturers listed as businesses approved to export to the EU, who can provide evidence that their products meet certain requirements
Goods can be exported under the scheme if they are all of the following:
- a category of product covered by the GEFS
- for direct export to or transit through the EU, or moved to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework
- from a stable supply chain
- packaged for the final consumer
GEFS support attestations
GEFS members may use time-limited GEFS support attestations (SAs) to provide information from manufacturers to COs at the exporting premises.
GEFS SAs can only be used to provide health and traceability information which is stable and verifiable by the OV, or FCCO in some circumstances, when issuing the SA.
SAs are time-limited to 30 calendar days, beginning on the day the SA is signed and covering products produced in the period up to and including the expiry date.
Compliance visits
To get a GEFS SA, an OV or FCCO must conduct a compliance visit to the manufacturer’s premises.
Manufacturers should complete the manufacturer declaration section of the GEFS SA to provide the relevant information to the OV or FCCO before or during the compliance visit.
At the compliance visit, the OV or FCCO will assess and record all relevant evidence that the conditions of the GEFS and the requirements of the relevant EHC that can be ascertained at the time of the visit have been met.
This could include:
- accurate supply chain, health, traceability and processing records for their products
- contractual agreements
- invoices
- HACCP plans or records
- standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- a physical check of at least a representative sample of the products
If the OV or FCCO is satisfied that all these requirements have been met, they will sign and issue the GEFS SA.
Batch declarations
Each and every delivery of products moved to the exporting premises during the 30 days covered by the support attestation must be accompanied by or electronically linked to both:
- the relevant support attestation
- a commercial document known as a batch declaration
The batch declaration provides further information, specific to that consignment of products, and confirms there have been no changes since the compliance visit.
Export health certificates
Products exported using the GEFS still need EHCs.
You need an EHC for each consignment you export. Select the ‘GEFS’ button on EHC Online when your request your EHC.
To decide whether to issue the EHC, the certifying officer (CO) will review a range of evidence, including the GEFS SA and batch declaration. The COs will do checks to ensure the accuracy and validity of the GEFS SA provided before issuing the EHC.
Apply to join GEFS
To join the GEFS you need to:
- complete the application form
- email the completed form to GEFSteam@apha.gov.uk
You must include the following information about each manufacturer that you’re using for GEFS:
- the registered address and approval or registration number
- the address of the warehouse or factory where the goods are sent from (if this is different from the registered address)
- a description of the goods you receive from each manufacturer
- the date when each manufacturer started supplying you with each type of goods
- confirmation that the goods are fully packaged for the final consumer by the manufacturer
What happens next
APHA will usually email you within 5 working days to confirm you’ve been accepted to join the scheme. You should keep the email to prove you’re a member.
Once you’ve joined the GEFS, your business will be added to the list of members.
Certifying officers will check you’re listed as a member of the GEFS when they sign export health certificates.
Audits
APHA regularly carries out audits to check that GEFS members and their manufacturers are complying with the GEFS’ terms of use.
During an audit, a selection of your EHCs will be reviewed. You must provide evidence demonstrating that you have met the requirements of the scheme.
You may be suspended or removed from the GEFS if:
- you do not comply with the audit process
- evidence of non-compliance is found
- you do not export goods using the GEFS for 6 months
More information
For more details about using the scheme, read the detailed GEFS guidance.
Updates to this page
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We've summarised the model and eligibility requirements for the GEFS, and added a link to a new guidance document with further information on using the scheme. Also added a new link to find and download GEFS support attestations.
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Updated information on when a 30 day support attestation can be used to remove the specific reference to 31 December 2023.
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GEFS email address has changed to GEFSteam@apha.gov.uk
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Updated guidance to explain GEFS is open until December 2023, and how exporters can apply for the scheme.
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New guidance about Food Competent Certifying Officers (FCCOs) added to the 'Requirements for exporters' section.
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First published.