Health certificate for animals; application

If you move live animals in intra-community trade to another EU member state, you need a health certificate for them.

Description

Live animals and products from them that are to be moved into the EU within the EU or from a third country must meet specific animal health requirements. This prevents the introduction of animal diseases into the EU or the spread of animal diseases from one EU country to another EU country.

Operators must ensure that animals to be moved to another member state are accompanied by a health certificate (also called a veterinary certificate or TRACES certificate).

The animal health certificate is required

  • for the entry of breeding and production animals from a third country into Germany (import) as well as
  • for the departure of breeding and production animals from Germany to third countries (countries outside the European Union) (export).

is required.

It provides information on the general health status of a breeding or farm animal.

The requirements for issuing an animal health certificate vary widely. Therefore, contact the responsible office as early as possible. Only if all the requirements are met can it issue a health certificate.

The veterinary certificate must be examined, sealed and signed by an official veterinarian. Before signing, the official veterinarian must verify, based on documentary checks, identity checks and physical checks, that the terrestrial animals kept under the certificate meet the required animal health requirements. If the relevant requirements are met, the health certificate can be issued in TRACES NT and handed over to the operator.

Prerequisites

The requirements for issuing an animal health certificate vary widely. Therefore, contact the competent body as early as possible. Only if all prerequisites are met, it can issue a health certificate.

For most certificates, the presentation of the animal is necessary.

You must notify the competent body of the arrival of an animal consignment in good time before arrival.

Procedure

For import:

  • The application for the issuance of a health certificate is made electronically in the database system "TRACES NT".
  • To access TRACES-NT, an "EU login" is required. For this purpose the importer has to register once and will be activated by the competent authority.
  • The animals are imported into Germany via a border control approved for the import of animals.
  • All required veterinary examination and treatment certificates must be presented.

For export:

  • The exporter is obliged to comply with the laws, regulations, standards and procedural and import requirements applicable in the importing country.
  • This results in the obligation of the operator to obtain the relevant current requirements of the third country if necessary and to submit them to the certifying officer for examination.
  • When exporting animals, the examination of the animals in the authority or on site by an official veterinarian is required. This must certify compliance with the respective requirements necessary for the third country.
  • Certain third countries permit exports to their territory only from establishments that are already known there through prior registration or approval and have been included in appropriate lists of registered or approved establishments.
  • Official listing procedures are subject to establishments having to register with the authorities of the third country and/or be officially listed. As a rule, officially confirmed export applications must be submitted for this purpose, in which in many cases compliance with the requirements specified by the third country must also be certified.
  • After the applications have been checked by the authorities of the third country and, if applicable, an on-site inspection has been successfully carried out, the companies are approved and listed for export by the respective third country and can then export.

Deadlines

The time requirements in which certain checks must be carried out by official veterinarians prior to the planned movement again differ depending on the animal species.

For compliance with the health requirements to be certified in Germany or the country of origin, very different deadlines and quarantine conditions may apply depending on the animal species and country of origin. Contact the responsible veterinary office as early as possible.

Processing time

within 48 hours

Required documents

  • If applicable, current veterinary examination and treatment certificates

Online procedures

  • TRACES NT

    The EU database TRACES-NT is used, among other things, to document imports of animals and products of animal and non-animal origin from third countries. To access TRACES-NT, an "EU login" is required. For this purpose, the entrepreneur must register once and will be activated by the competent authority.

Fees

  • The fees depend, among other things, on the type of animal and the number of animals. If necessary, check with the competent authority.

Legal bases

Status:27.01.2023

Responsible for editing:Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz

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  • Online transactions, Bavaria-wide
  • Online transactions, locally limited
  • Form, Bavaria-wide
  • Form, locally limited
  • Prefillable Form, Bavaria-wide
  • Legal bases, Bavaria-wide
  • Legal bases, locally limited
  • Fees, Bavaria-wide
  • Fees, locally limited
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