APHIS HomeAbout APHISNewsroomCareer OpportunitiesHelpContact Us
Search
Browse by Subject
Animal Health
Animal Welfare
Biotechnology
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Import and Export
International Services
Permits
Plant Health
Regulations and Assessments
Wildlife Control and Management
Regulations and Assessments

International Animal Export Regulations

Divider

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

As of January 1, 2007, 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

Cattle Embryos

  • Bovine embryos Annex II - Health Certificate: In vivo derived embryos (eligible for intra-Community trade). March 2006 (pdf 33kb)
  • Bovine embryos Annex III - Health Certificate: In vitro derived embryos, conceived using semen complying with Council Directive 88/407/EEC (eligible for intra-Community trade). March 2006 (pdf 38kb)
  • Bovine embryos Annex IV - Health Certificate: : In vitro derived embryos, conceived using semen coming from an approved semen collection/storage center (excluded from intra-Community trade). March 2006 (pdf 36kb)
  • Council Directive 89/556/EEC - September 2007 (pdf 641kb)
  • Commission Decision 2006/168/EC - September 2007 (pdf 653kb)

Bovine embryo collection teams approved to export to the European Union:
Go to http://circa.europa.eu/irc/sanco/vets/info/data/semen/semen.html
Scroll down to section 2 sub-section 1.
Click on second section -- "2. Approved for import into the European Community"

Cattle Semen

  • Bovine semen Annex II, Part 1 - Health Certificate - Commission Decision 2008/120/EC, Semen collected after 31 December 2004, in accordance with Council Directive 88/407/EEC, as amended by Directive 2004/43/EC - February 2008 (pdf 148kb)
  • Bovine semen Annex II, Part 2 - Health Certificate - Commission Decision 2008/120/EC, Semen collected, processed, and stored before 31 December 2004, in accordance with Council Directive 88/407/EEC - February 2008 (pdf 194kb)
  • Council Directive - 88/407/EEC - September 2007 (pdf 137kb)
  • Commission Decision - 2008/120/EC - February 2008 (pdf 719kb)

Bovine semen collection centers approved to export to the European Union:
Go to http://circa.europa.eu/irc/sanco/vets/info/data/semen/semen.html
Scroll down to section 1 sub-section 1.
Click on second section -- "2. Approved for import into the European Community"

Bovine Semen collection center certificate and Questionnaire (checklist) - December 2008 (pdf 56kb)

Bovine semen storage center Certificate and Questionnaire/checklist (pdf 100kb)

Horses

Equine semen collection centers approved to export to the European Union:
Go to http://circa.europa.eu/irc/sanco/vets/info/data/semen/semen.html
Scroll down to section 1 sub-section 3.
Click on second section -- "2. Approved for import into the European Community"

Equine semen collection center Certificate and Questionnaire/checklist (pdf 35kb)

Ovine and Caprine

Poultry

The previous certificates for breeding poultry, hatching eggs, and day-old chicks may be used for import into or transit through the EU until February 15, 2009. The new certificates posted below may be used as of January 1, 2009, and are mandatory as of February 1, 2009.

Swine

  • Porcine Semen - May 2004 (pdf 421kb)
  • Porcine Semen - Council Directive 90/429/EEC, Annexes A, B, C (pdf 451kb)
  • Porcine Semen - Questionnaire/checklist for approval of porcine semen collection centers (pdf 51kb)

Porcine semen collection centers approved to export to the European Union
Go to http://circa.europa.eu/irc/sanco/vets/info/data/semen/semen.html
Scroll down to section 1 sub-section 1.
Click on second section -- "2. Approved for import into the European Community"

Pets

For dogs, cats, and ferrets exported to Finland, Republic of Ireland, Malta, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, please refer to the link to the individual Member State for additional information.

Rabies vaccination is not required for pet (non-commercial) dogs and cats under 3 months of age.

Pet dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified with either a clearly readable tattoo OR a microchip. The microchip must comply with ISO standard 11784 or 11785 OR the appropriate microchip reader must be provided along with the pet.

Aquaculture

Mollusks (live), eggs, and gametes: Effective July 6, 2007, all exports to the European Union of live bivalve mollusks and their eggs and gametes for further growth, fattening, or relaying are suspended.

For species not listed, the requirements are not known. However, exporters wanting to ship livestock or germplasm whose requirements are not listed in the IRRS, 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.

 

Divider
Last Modified: January 8, 2009