Official certificates shall:
bear a unique code;
not be signed by the certifying officer where they are blank or incomplete;
be drawn up in one or more of the official languages of the institutions of the Union understood by the certifying officer and, where relevant, in one of the official languages of the Member State of destination;
be authentic and accurate;
allow for the identification of the person who signed them and the date of issue; and
allow the easy verification of the links between the certificate, the issuing authority and the consignment, lot or individual animal or good covered by the certificate.
The competent authorities shall take all appropriate measures to prevent the issuance of false or misleading official certificates or the abuse of official certificates.