greenvet-hanoi
Chuyên gia thú y
Non-commercial imports of dogs, cats and ferrets from non-EU countries
Travellers may bring into the country under non-commercial conditions a maximum of five representatives of all pet animal species accompanying themselves, provided that they are not intended for sale or conveyance and the animals are not intended for commercial activity. The person accompanying the animal need not be the animal’s owner. Imports are also considered non-commercial if the animal’s shipping box is placed in the aircraft hold provided that the accompanying person travels in the same aircraft.
Questions on non-commercial movements of dogs, cats and ferrets can be sent by email to kolmasmaa@evira.fi
The pets to be imported must meet the import conditions below (there are 7 import requirements ). The underlined sections in the text refer to the links in the right-hand column of this page.
Amendments to legislation relating to movements of pet animals
The legislation relating to the animal health of pet dogs, cats and ferrets imported together with travellers has been amended. The import of pet animals is governed by the so-called Pet Regulation (Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) No. 998/2003, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2003R0998:20091019:EN:PDF), as amended by a new EU Regulation (Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No. 438/2010, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:132:0003:0010:EN:PDF ). The amendments introduced by Regulation 438/2010 came into force on 18 June 2010.
1. Approved points of entry
Animals must be brought into Finland via an approved point of entry, where the animal must be presented to customs for inspection. Customs inspect the animal’s identification tag and import documentation.
2. Identification tagging
Animals must be identification-tagged with a microchip or a clearly legible tattoo. As of 3 July 2011, microchips will be the only form of identification tagging accepted. If the microchip does not conform to ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO Standard 11785, the importer of the animal must have a device capable of reading the microchip. The animal must be identification-tagged before being vaccinated against rabies. The details of the animal’s identification tagging must also be entered in its vaccination certificates.
N.B. Importers of pets are always responsible for the readability of the microchip if the pet’s chip does not conform to the required standard. You can check the standard of your microchip with the manufacturer. The veterinary border inspection post at Helsinki-VantaaAirport has a reader that also reads Avid chips, which are widely used in the USA.
3. Rabies vaccination
Animals must be vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO standard). The vaccine must meet the requirements of the OIE standard as given in the following link (requirements in chapter 2.1.13, section C): http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/mmanual/2008/pdf/2.01.13_RABIES.pdf
The updated list of approved vaccines can be found in the webpage of Jordbruksverket in Sweden: http://www.jordbruksverket.se/download/18.76ca33bb127af0b508c80003390/godkanda+vacciner.pdf
At least all the vaccines in the list above fulfil the requirements. Also many other vaccines fulfilling the requirements can be found. Recombination vaccines are also accepted.
The rabies vaccination and revaccination must be carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer. For most vaccines, it is recommended that the animal is over 12 weeks old. The veterinarian administering the vaccine is responsible for complying with the recommendations. In addition to the requirements, the vaccinated puppies and kittens under 12 weeks of age imported from all non-EU countries, must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate confirming that the vaccination has been carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer. The certificate must be completed in Finnish or English. The identification information must be entered in the certificate (chip or tattoo number). Therefore in practice, importing puppies and kittens from countries with a low risk of rabies infection, imported puppy or kitten must be at least 15 weeks of age due to the 21 day waiting period, and importing puppies and kittens from countries with a high risk of rabies infection, imported puppy or kitten must be at least 7 months of age (12 weeks + 30 days + 3 months). The exception are those countries , which allow the import of unvaccinated puppies and kittens under 12 weeks of age (a link on the left hand side). I f customs suspects tha the animal is younger than the age mentioned here, the customs is entitled to take the following steps: the animal is directed to a chargeable veterinary border inspection to carry out further examinations (a rabies serological examination, an age evaluation by a veterinarian etc.), the animal is returned to the country of origin or the animal is put down.
The animal must be identification-tagged before the rabies vaccination is administered. The veterinarian must enter the last day of validity of the rabies vaccination in the vaccination certificate.
The rabies vaccinations currently used in Finland are valid for two or three years, depending on the vaccine and if vaccination is carried out when the animal is over one year old.
The date of administration of the rabies vaccine may not be before the date when the chip is fitted.
Import countries are divided into two categories based on the risk of infection:
A. Countries that are free of rabies or where the risk of infection from rabies is low.
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Croatia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Russia, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.
The above list contains the countries given in section 2 of part B and in part C of Annex II of the Pet Regulation 998/2003 as of 15 October 2008. For guidance on how to read the most recent version of the Regulation click here. Importers must always check the status of the import country themselves in the Pet Regulation. A rabies serological test as described in section 4 is not required for imports from countries in subsection A.
For animals imported from countries with a low risk of rabies infection the vaccination must be administered at least 21 days prior to importation . The 21-day waiting period does not apply to booster vaccinations if the vaccination is administered within the period of validity of the previous vaccination. The previous vaccination must be entered in the animal’s vaccination certificate or pet passport.
For imports to be compliant with the requirements of this section, the animal must be transported from the above countries either directly to Finland or such that the animal stays only in one or more of the above countries between the country of origin and Finland. If the animal is transported by air or sea, the transport may also go via another non-EU country if in that country the animal remains within the confines of an international airport or is enclosed on board a vessel
B. Countries where the risk of infection from rabies is high. These are all the non-EU countries not listed in subsection A.
For animals imported from countries with a high risk of infection from rabies, in addition to the rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody titration is required in accordance with the requirements of section 4.
4. Rabies serological examination
A rabies serological examination must be performed on animals imported from countries with a high risk of rabies infection.
An approved veterinarian must take a blood sample for examination no less than 30 days following the rabies vaccination and at least three months prior to importation .
The antibody test must be carried out in an EU-approved laboratory (in Finland Evira). The neutralising antibody titre must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. The antibody test need not be repeated if the animal has been revaccinated as recommended by the vaccine manufacturer.
If the animal originates from the EU and a rabies antibody titration has been performed before the animal was taken outside the EU, it is not necessary to wait for three months after the blood sample is taken before the animal is brought back into the EU. However, at least 30 days must elapse between the vaccination and the blood sample being taken. In Finland, the blood sample in such cases may be taken by an authorised veterinarian. The animal must be accompanied by a pet passport with the antibody titration recorded by the veterinarian.
5. Treatment against echinococcosis tapeworms
Dogs and cats must be accompanied by a certificate issued by a veterinarian showing that the animal has received, not more than 30 days before arrival, an appropriate dosage of medicine approved for the species concerned containing praziquantel or epsiprantel against echinococcosis tapeworm. Evira recommends that animals are retreated within 30 days of the previous medication.
The treatment must be given outside the EU before the pet enters Finland. If it is a returning pet, it is not accepted that you give the medication in Finland before leaving to the country outside EU, even though the return is under 30 days after the treatment.
Before 1.4.2011 it is still accepted that returning pets get the treatment in Finland. After 1.4.2011 the treatment must be given in the country outside EU. Echinococcus medication requirements for dogs and cats brought in from Russia to change on 1 April 2011.
Medication against echinococcosis is not required for dogs and cats if the animal is brought back to Finland within 24 hours of leaving the country.
These national requirements for echinococcosis treatment were due to expire on 30 June 2010, but an amendment to legislation has extended them until 31 December 2011.
6. Veterinary certificate or pet passport
The animal must be accompanied by a veterinary certification “ Veterinary certificate for domestic dogs, cats and ferrets entering the EC for non-commercial movements” issued by an official veterinarian or veterinarian approved by the competent authority in the country of origin (non-EU country) detailing the animal’s identification, vaccination against rabies and, where necessary, serological examination and medication against echinococcosis. The certificate must be completed in Finnish, Swedish or English. The endorsement by the competent authority in the country of origin is needed, if the veterinarian is not approved by the competent authority.
For pets imported from the United States, we kindly ask you to refer to the guidelines on Accepted Authorities in US , which can also be found on the right hand side links.
The original vaccination certificates (or certified copies of these) must be attached to the veterinary certificate. The original documents must also contain details of the animal’s identification tagging.
If the pet is originally from an EU country and is accompanied by a pet passport with the entries required for importation (parts I-IV and if necessary VII), the pet passport replaces the veterinary certificate.
7. New additional national requirements
A number of other Member States have been granted the right to impose additional requirements on pet dogs, cats and ferrets until 31 December 2011:
Like Finland, Ireland , Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom may require tapeworm medication to prevent the spread of echinococcosis;
Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the UK may require a rabies serological test prior to any movements of pet animals to those countries;
Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the UK may require pet dogs, cats and ferrets to be identification-tagged with a microchip. Other Member States must accept identification tagging by microchipping or tattoo. However, tattoos will only be accepted until 3 July 2011;
Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the UK may impose further requirements regarding ticks; and
Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the UK may require pet animals being brought in from outside the EU to be placed in quarantine.
8. Safeguard measures
Prior to importation, importers must check whether any EU safeguard measures apply to the import country.
Situation as of April 2009:
Importing cats from Australia
In addition to the requirements in sections 1-5, cats imported from Australia must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate stating that the animal has not been kept at holdings where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed within the past 60 days.
This requirement does not apply to cats in transit provided that they remain within the confines of an international airport.
Importing dogs and cats from the Malaysian peninsular
In addition to the requirements in sections 1-6, dogs and cats imported from the Malaysian peninsular must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate confirming that the animal meets the following requirements:
- the animal has not been in contact with pigs for at least 60 days prior to export, and
- the animal has not been kept at holdings where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed within the last 60 days, and
- the animal has undergone an IgG capture ELISA test on a blood sample taken within 10 days of export with a negative result. The test must be performed in a laboratory approved by the competent veterinary authority for testing for antibody to Nipah disease
Source : Non-commercial imports of dogs, cats and ferrets from non-EU countries