Certificates of authenticity shall be made out in one original and not less than one copy in accordance with the model in Annex II.

The forms shall measure approximately 210 × 297 mm and the paper shall weigh not less than 40 g/m².

The forms shall be printed and completed in one of the official languages of the Union; they may also be printed and completed in the official language or one of the official languages of the exporting country.

The relevant definition in Article 2 applying to the meat originating in the exporting country shall be shown on the reverse of the form.

Certificates of authenticity shall bear an individual serial number allocated by the issuing authorities referred to in Article 7. The copies shall bear the same serial number as the original.

The original and copies thereof may be typed or hand-written. In the latter case, they shall be completed in black ink and in block capitals.

Certificates of authenticity shall be valid only if they are duly completed and endorsed in accordance with the instructions in Annexes II and III by an issuing authority listed in Annex III.

Certificates of authenticity shall be considered to have been duly endorsed if they state the date and place of issue and if they bear the stamp of the issuing authority and the signature of the person or persons empowered to sign them.

The stamp may be replaced by a printed seal on the original of the certificate of authenticity and any copies thereof.