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Regulations and Assessments

International Animal Export Regulations

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Notice:

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these regulations for exporting animals or animal products to a foreign country, you should contact the APHIS-VS Area Office in the State from which the animals or products will be exported.

European Union - Summary of Requirements

The Member States of the European Union are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Bilingual health certificates are available for some species/commodities. Please refer to the link for the individual Member State for available bilingual health certificates. It is the responsibility of the exporter to obtain a bilingual certificate if it is not available on the Member State link.

SPECIES - MOST RECENT UPDATE

Bovine:

Bovine Embryos

Additional information about exporting bovine embryos to the EU

List of EU-approved bovine embryo collection and production teams (click on "United States" at bottom of the page)

Bovine Semen

Additional information about exporting bovine semen to EU.

List of EU-approved bovine semen collection centers and bovine semen storage centers (click on "United States" at bottom of the page)

Horses

Note:
Effective June 24, 2013, horses and equine semen/embryos donors are no longer requried to be tested for vesicular stomatitis.

Live equine

Note:
You may be asked to provide additional documentation at the time of certificate endorsement to support the fact the horse will only be in the EU temporarily (less than 90 days).

Additional information about exporting live horses to the EU.

Equine Semen:

Additional information about export of equine semen to the EU

List of EU-approved equine semen collection and storage centers (click on "United States" at bottom of page)

Equine Embryo:

Additional information about export of equine embryos to the EU.

Ovine and Caprine

Ovine/Caprine semen:

Additional information about export of ovine/caprine semen to the EU.

Ovine/Caprine embryos:

Additional information about export of ovine/caprine semen and embryos to the EU.

Swine

Live Swine

Breeding swine - Health certificate - February 2013 (pdf 141kb)

Swine Semen

Additional information about export of porcine semen to the EU.

List of EU-approved porcine semen collection centers (click on "United States" at bottom of page)

Poultry

Note:
Part II of the day-old chick certificate must be issued by an accredited veterinarian within 10 days prior to export and must be endorsed by APHIS. Part III of the certificate must be issued on the day of hatch and does not need APHIS endorsement. The accredited veterinarian must apply a stamp to Part III containing his/her name, company name, and accreditation number. The original copy of Part III must be attached to Part II of the certificate

Captive Bred Birds:

Defined as "birds that have not been caught in the wild but have been born and bred in captivity from parents that mated or had gametes otherwise transferred in captivity." This does not apply to poultry (fowl, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, quail, pheasants, partridges), pigeons, ratites, birds for conservation programs, pets, or birds intended for zoos

Raptors

Raptors (such as falcons) may be exported to the EU according to the following three scenarios:

(Pet raptors must accompany the owner during transit.  The owner must sign a declaration attesting that the bird is not intended to be sold or transferred to another owner.)

This applies to raptors which do not fall into these categories:
-       pet birds accompanying their owner
-       birds imported for conservation programs approved by the competent authority of the Member State of destination
-       birds intended for zoos, circuses, amusement parks
-       research birds
Captive bred raptors must originate from an approved breeding bird establishment meeting these conditions.

  • Birds intended for zoos, conservation programs, and research

The import conditions for these birds are determined by the importing country.  The importer should request this information from the government of the Member State of destination.

Pets

Pet dogs, cats, and ferrets must be identified with a microchip compatible with ISO standard 11784 or 11785 or the appropriate microchip reader must be provided along with the pet. Microchip implantation must occur PRIOR to rabies vaccination. Any rabies vaccination that occurs prior to microchip implantation is not considered valid regardless of whether the animal was up-to-date on its previous rabies vaccines. In this case, the animal must be revaccinated. 21 days must have elapsed after the first (primary) vaccination after implantation of the microchip before the animal is eligible to enter the European Union. A rabies vaccination is considered primary if either: (1) an animal was up-to-date on its rabies vaccination but vaccination occurred prior to microchip implantation, (2) vaccination was not carried out within the period of validity of a previous vaccination, or (3) the animal was vaccinated for the first time. 

Rabies vaccination is not required for pet dogs, cats and ferrets under 3 months of age, but not all EU Member States allow import of such animals. Import of unvaccinated animals must be authorized by the EU Member State. The exporter should contact the animal health authorities in the Member State for authorization, and documentation of authorization should be attached to the export certificate.

  • Pet Dogs, Cats and Ferrets - Health Certificate (Non-commercial movement of five or less animals) - August 2012 (pdf 49kb)
    • Annotated certificates with explanatory notes
  • Pet Dogs, Cats and Ferrets - Health Certificate (Movement of commercial or more than five non-commercial animals) - August 2012 (pdf 50kb)
    • Annotated certificates with explanatory notes
  • Pet Birds - Health Certificate - effective through December 31, 2013 (pdf 46kb)

Aquaculture

NOTE: Effective March 1, 2013, new health certificates are required for live aquatic animal exports.  The significant change is the removal of epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) from the European Union’s regulated disease list.

NOTE: Effective July 6, 2007, exports of mollusks and their eggs and gametes (*with the exception of manila clams, see below) to the European Union for further growth, fattening, or relaying are suspended.
*Export of manila clams may be authorized by individual EU Member States. Exporters should confirm with the government of the individual EU Member State.

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1012/2012 - February 2013 (pdf 1.39 mb)
Commission Regulation (EU) No 346/2010 - April 2010 (pdf 1.49 mb)
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1251/2008 - May 2009 (pdf 37kb)

EU Member States’ Health Status

 

For species not listed, the requirements are not known. However, exporters wanting to ship livestock or germplasm whose requirements are not listed in the IREGS, should have the interested party (importer/buyer) in the country of destination apply for an Import Permit at the appropriate ministry. This Import Permit will most likely outline the specific requirements.

 

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Last Modified: July 1, 2013