Bertie Thewes

I wonder if anyone can shed any light on the following: Our company is registered and based in the USA. We are importing fish from the UK to the USA. In order for us to do so, we have to apply for an export health certificate - issued by a UK vet. My question is, should the UK vet be able to charge our US company with VAT or should it fall into a "not applicable" bracket? Similarly - our US company bought packaging produced in Turkey. It was shipped to the UK so that fish could be packed in it before it ships to the USA. We had to pay VAT at the port of entry - surely there is no need for this as the product is "in transit"? Thanks very much much!