Animal health certificates may stand on their own, but certification is often required in Union legislation for other purposes, for example in order to certify that public health or animal welfare requirements of animals or products have been complied with.
Féadfaidh deimhnithe sláinte ainmhithe seasamh leo féin, ach is minic a éilítear deimhniúchán i reachtaíocht an Aontais chun críoch eile, mar shampla lena dheimhniú go bhfuil na ceanglais sláinte phoiblí nó leasa ainmhithe d'ainmhithe nó do tháirgí comhlíonta.