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United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

European Union

Last Modified: Jul 5, 2019
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IRegs for LIVE Animals

Notice: If you have any questions or concerns regarding the procedures and requirements for exporting animals, you should contact the VS Field Office covering the area from which the animal will be exported, the area in which your office is located.

HEALTH CERTIFICATE ISSUANCE AND SUBMISSION

USDA Accredited Veterinarian Signature Original Ink
APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer Signature Original Ink

Details: Health certificates require original ink signatures from the issuing USDA Accredited Veterinarian and the endorsing APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer with the application of the APHIS embossed seal. Submissions through the online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) cannot be accepted at this time.

The Member States of the European Union are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 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.

Equine

  • Live Horses

Note: List of EU-approved equine semen collection centers and equine semen storage centers (scroll to bottom of the page and click on “United States”)

Note: List of EU-approved equine embryo collection teams (scroll to bottom of the page and click on “United States”)

Cattle

  • Bovine Embryos

Note: Additional information about exporting bovine embryos to the EU (scroll down to section II. Embryos)   

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

  • Bovine Semen

Note: 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)

Sheep and Goats

  • Ovine/Caprine Semen

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

  • Ovine/Caprine Embryos

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

Swine

  • Live Swine
  • Swine Semen

Note: 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.

Birds (non-Poultry)

Note: Import conditions for birds intended for zoos, conservation programs, and research are determined by the importing country. The importer should request this information from the government of the Member State of destination.

Note: "Captive bred birds" is 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.

Note: Raptors eligible for export to the EU are captive bred 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.

Aquaculture

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1012/2012 - February 2013 

Directive 2006/88/EC – On page 52 is the list of species susceptible to EHN, Bonamia exitiosa, Perkinsus marinus, Microcytos mackini, taura syndrome, yellowhead disease, VHS, IHN, KHV, ISA, Marteilia refringens, Bonamia ostreae, white spot disease

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1251/2008 - May 2009  - On pages 11-14 is the list of possible vector species for diseases listed above

Commission Regulation (EU) No 346/2010 - April 2010 - On page 9 is the list of species susceptible to SVC, BKD, IPN, Gryodactilys salaris

EU Member States’ Health Status - http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/aquaculture/declarations_en.htm

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1250/2008 - May 2009 

Research / Lab Animals

Pets

Visit the APHIS Pet Travel Website for information about exporting your pets.
For species not listed, the requirements are not known. However, exporters wanting to ship livestock whose requirements are not listed above, 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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