Cattle Health Certification Standards

What Cattle Health Certification Standards does

Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHECS) is a UK and Ireland industry standards body founded in 1999 that sets, certifies, and audits protocols for controlling endemic infectious cattle diseases including BVD, IBR, Leptospirosis, Johne's Disease, Neospora, and Bovine TB. The organisation is co-owned by the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA), the National Beef Association (NBA), and Holstein UK, and does not run its own herd health scheme — instead it licenses and regulates a network of eight health scheme providers (including Premium Cattle Health Scheme, National Milk Laboratories, the Cattle Information Service, IML Healthplus, AFBI, Jersey Island Genetics, and Shetland Animal Health Scheme, with HiHealth Herdcare closing in January 2026). Its core products are the CHECS Technical Document and the CHECS Bovine TB Technical Document, which codify testing and biosecurity standards developed through consensus by volunteer veterinary and scientific specialists; CHECS also operates an auditing and conformance function, conducting approximately 250 on-farm audits per year plus spot-checks at shows, winter fairs, sales, and markets. Revenue comes from annual licensing fees paid by the licensed health scheme providers and targeted government contributions (notably Defra funding for TB Entry Level Membership development), with CHECS earning formal 'earned recognition' benefits from Defra and the Welsh Government that grant accredited herds regulatory advantages such as reduced TB testing frequency and exemptions from post-movement testing. CHECS reaches over 14,000 member herds (~13–14% of UK cattle holdings) primarily through veterinary surgeons, with over half of scheme members first learning about their scheme from their vet; it also engages through industry events, shows, breed societies, and the licensed scheme provider network.

Name

Cattle Health Certification Standards

Legal name

Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHECS)

Website

https://checs.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CHECS is a UK and Ireland industry standards body, founded in 1999 and co-owned by BCVA, NBA, and Holstein UK, that sets and certifies protocols for controlling endemic cattle diseases (BVD, IBR, Leptospirosis, Johne's, Neospora, Bovine TB) by licensing and auditing a network of health scheme providers serving over 14,000 member herds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Livestock Health Certification & Disease Control Standards

NAICS

Cattle Ranching and Farming (1121), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Regulatory Authorities (Licensing, Compliance & Enforcement) (HLAMAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Certification Program Administration & Scheme Management (Standard Owners) (AFALACAC)

Keywords

• Cattle health certification
• Livestock disease control
• Bovine health standards
• Animal health schemes
• Veterinary certification programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Kenilworth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Health scheme licensing fees: Cattle health schemes licensed by CHECS pay annual fees which help fund CHECS operations. CHECS does not charge farmers directly but receives funding through its licensed scheme providers.
2. Government contributions: Defra has contributed towards development of specific CHECS programmes, particularly the TB Entry Level Membership, recognizing that it delivers key recommendations in the strategy for achieving officially TB free status for England.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CHECS develops and maintains industry-wide technical standards and protocols for the control and eradication of endemic infectious cattle diseases (BVD, IBR, Leptospirosis, Johne's Disease, Neospora, Bovine TB) across the UK and Ireland. It licenses and regulates health scheme providers (laboratories and certification bodies), publishes the CHECS Technical Document, and conducts annual on-farm audits and spot-checks at shows, sales, and markets to ensure conformance. Farmers do not buy from CHECS directly; they access CHECS-certified programmes through licensed scheme providers and their herd veterinary surgeons.

Product overview

Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHECS) is a standards-setting and certification organization for cattle disease control in the UK and Ireland, established in 1999. It does not directly run health schemes but licenses and regulates multiple health scheme providers (including Premium Cattle Health Scheme, National Milk Laboratories, AFBI, and others). CHECS publishes the CHECS Technical Document and CHECS Bovine TB Technical Document as its core products, which define standards and protocols for controlling six major cattle diseases: BVD (with four programmes including a new Dairy BVD Negative programme), IBR (three programmes), Leptospirosis (three programmes), Johne's Disease (with new Risk Level 1* certification), Neospora (one programme), and Bovine TB (two programmes: TB Entry Level Membership and TB Herd Accreditation). The organization also provides auditing and conformance services, conducting annual audits of farms, shows, markets and sales. CHECS has over 14,000 member herds representing approximately 13% of UK cattle holdings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CHECS Technical Document Comprehensive technical specification document setting the industry-wide standards and protocols for controlling infectious cattle diseases (BVD, IBR, Leptospirosis, Johne's Disease, Neospora). Used by licensed health scheme providers, herd vets and CHECS-licensed laboratories across the UK and Ireland.
• CHECS Bovine TB Technical Document Technical standard document governing CHECS TB programmes (TB Entry Level Membership and TB Herd Accreditation), covering biosecurity measures, testing requirements and the 0-10 scoring system for bovine TB control. Used by licensed health schemes, herd vets, and the APHA.
• CHECS TB Entry Level Membership Entry-level voluntary certification programme focused on baseline biosecurity measures to help UK cattle farmers reduce the risk of TB breakdowns. Membership is delivered through licensed health scheme providers with veterinary involvement; annual charge estimated between £10 and £40 depending on other CHECS participation.
• CHECS TB Herd Accreditation Voluntary accreditation programme awarding UK cattle herds a score from 0-10 reflecting years since the last TB breakdown. Provides earned recognition from Defra (annual rather than six-monthly testing) and Welsh Government (exemption from Post-Movement Testing for Level 10 herds). Requires veterinary involvement and APHA data sharing.
• BVD Control Programmes Suite of four CHECS certification programmes for Bovine Viral Diarrhoema control: BVD Accredited Free, BVD Vaccinated Monitored Free, Dairy BVD Negative Programme, and BVD Eradication. Delivered via licensed health scheme providers across the UK and Ireland.
• IBR Control Programmes Three CHECS certification programmes for Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis control: IBR Accredited Free, IBR Vaccinated Monitored Free, and IBR Eradication. Available to UK and Irish cattle farmers through licensed health scheme providers.
• Leptospirosis Control Programmes Three CHECS certification programmes for Leptospirosis control: Accredited Free, Vaccinated Monitored Free, and Eradication. Delivered via licensed health scheme providers across the UK and Ireland.
• Johne's Disease Risk-Level Certification Two CHECS programmes for Johne's Disease: the Disease Risk-Level Certification Programme (with R1, R1*, R2, R3, R4 levels) and the Disease Risk-Level Reduction Programme. The new Risk Level 1* (RL1*) recognises herds at lowest risk with no positive blood tests for over 12 months.
• Neospora Risk-Level Certification Programme Single CHECS certification programme for Neospora control, addressing the aborting disease that can be passed from mother to daughter or spread by dog faeces. Available via licensed health scheme providers across the UK and Ireland.
• Licensed Health Scheme Provider Network CHECS licenses and regulates a network of health scheme providers that issue certificates, manage memberships and deliver laboratory testing services: AFBI, The Cattle Information Service, IML Healthplus, Jersey Island Genetics Ltd, National Milk Laboratories, Premium Cattle Health Scheme (SRUC), and Shetland Animal Health Scheme. HiHealth Herdcare closure was announced in January 2026.
• Auditing and Conformance Service Annual on-farm auditing service (around 250 audits per year) plus random spot-checks at country shows, winter fairs, sales and markets. Verifies that CHECS-licensed health schemes, herd vets and farmers are adhering to scheme rules and CHECS technical standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• BVD causes £61 million per year in losses to UK farmers (£6.50 per bovine). Ireland estimates over €13/£11 per animal.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AFBI (Animal and Plant Health Agency partnership through licensed scheme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFBI operates a CHECS-licensed health scheme, providing disease testing and certification services to Northern Ireland farmers under the CHECS framework.
• The Cattle Information Service (CIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIS operates a CHECS-licensed health scheme providing disease certification services to UK dairy and beef farmers.
• HiHealth HerdcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperated by Biobest, HiHealth Herdcare was a CHECS-licensed health scheme until its closure announced in January 2026 due to lab disruptions and regulatory pressures.
• IML HealthpluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIML Healthplus operates a CHECS-licensed health scheme providing disease certification services.
• Jersey Island Genetics LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJersey Island Genetics operates a CHECS-licensed health scheme serving cattle farmers on Jersey Island.
• National Milk LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNML operates CHECS-licensed health schemes including NML Herdwise, providing disease certification through milk testing for dairy farmers.
• Premium Cattle Health Scheme (PCHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRun by SRUC Veterinary Services, PCHS is a CHECS-licensed health scheme offering similar services for farmers in Great Britain. Highlighted as an alternative for HiHealth Herdcare members.
• Shetland Animal Health SchememinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAHS operates a CHECS-licensed health scheme serving cattle farmers in the Shetland Islands.
• British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHECS is co-owned by BCVA. BCVA developed BATVA training programme for TB advisers and works with CHECS on TB Entry Level Membership development. BCVA members receive discounted BATVA training (£10 vs £55).
• National Beef AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBA is one of three industry bodies that co-own CHECS, helping set direction and standards for cattle health certification across UK and Ireland.
• Holstein UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHolstein UK is one of three industry bodies that co-own CHECS and promote CHECS standards among pedigree dairy cattle breeders.
• TB Advisory ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTB Advisory Service helped develop CHECS TB Entry Level Membership and provides expertise on TB risk management for farmers.
• DefracoreOthersUK Government Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs provides earned recognition for CHECS TB Herd Accreditation, allowing accredited herds to remain on annual rather than six-monthly testing. Contributed funding to TB Entry Level Membership development. APHA provides TB test data for CHECS TB programmes.
• Welsh GovernmentcoreOthersWelsh Government provides earned recognition for CHECS TB programmes including exemption from Post-Movement Testing for cattle from Level 10 herds. Has incorporated CHECS into TB control strategy.
• Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)coreOthersAPHA provides 10-year TB history data for CHECS TB Herd Accreditation applicants with farmer permission. Suspended support in May 2022 due to work pressures, resumed December 2022.
• Red TractorcoreOthersRed Tractor requires dairy and beef farmers to have health plans in place. CHECS standards support Red Tractor compliance requirements.
• Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)minorOthersAHDB provides cattle purchasing checklists and biosecurity advice that complement CHECS programmes. Promotes disease control initiatives alongside CHECS.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RSPCA Assured: UK farm animal welfare certification scheme operating under the RSPCA brand. Comparable as a UK standards body that certifies farms, works with retailers, and licenses inspectors to verify compliance with animal welfare criteria.
• Soil Association Certification: UK organic certification body covering organic livestock production including cattle. Operates a comparable scheme-licensing and audit model with a standards document underpinning certified farm status.
• Quality Meat Scotland: Scottish red meat quality assurance body operating whole-of-supply-chain standards and certifications. Comparable function to CHECS in setting and enforcing cattle-related standards, though broader in scope (covering processing and marketing as well as farm-level assurance).
• Bord Bia (Irish Food Board): Irish state agency running the Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme covering Irish cattle farms. CHECS standards are explicitly adopted across Ireland alongside Bord Bia schemes, making it the closest geographic peer for cattle health and quality certification.
• Red Tractor Assurance: UK farm assurance scheme that sets and audits standards across livestock, crops and produce. Like CHECS, it is industry-owned, licenses certification bodies, and integrates with government and retailer compliance—Red Tractor even requires health plans that CHECS programmes help satisfy.

Emerging players

• Animal Health Australia: Australian industry-government partnership that administers national animal health programmes, including the Johne's Disease Framework and bovine biosecurity standards. Comparable in mission and stakeholder model to CHECS but operating in a different geography.

Others

• Premium Cattle Health Scheme (SRUC): Operated by Scotland's Rural College, PCHS is one of the licensed CHECS health scheme providers that delivers disease testing and certification to farmers under the CHECS framework. Same disease-control mission as CHECS but as a downstream delivery channel.
• Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB): UK statutory levy body funding industry research, knowledge transfer and farm productivity initiatives including biosecurity advice. Complementary to CHECS in promoting cattle disease control but without CHECS's standards-licensing remit.
• Cattle Industry Forum / National Beef Association: NBA is one of the three co-owners of CHECS and represents UK beef producers on cattle health and welfare policy. Closely aligned with CHECS governance though not a certification body itself.
• National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS): UK veterinary-supported animal health knowledge service providing disease alerts and farmer-vet resources. Complementary to CHECS programmes as an enabling information source rather than a certification competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/checs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cattle Health Certification Standards