International trade: Movement of live animals (other than domestic species) between member states under the 'Balai' Directive 92/65/EEC
- Intra-Community Trade
- Registered Holding
- Approval of premises
- Movement from and to approved premises
- Movement from approved premises to a non-approved premises
Intra-Community Trade
The ‘Balai’ Directive
92/65/EEC 
provides harmonised conditions for trade between Member States and imports
from third countries of live animals, semen, embryos and ova, which are
not covered elsewhere by EU legislation. In practice the Directive applies
to:
- Primates (monkeys, apes, gorillas, baboons, lemurs, marmosets etc.);
- Ungulates (other than domestic sheep, goats, deer, cattle etc.);
- captive birds (other than poultry);
- Bees
- Lagomorphs (rabbits and hares if being commercially traded);
- Cats, dogs and ferrets (if being commercially traded);
- Pet animals are not included.
Animals listed above (except primates) may be traded from premises that have been ‘registered’ with the competent authority provided that they conform to the requirement described in Articles 6 and 10 of the Directive 92/65/EEC. They must also be accompanied by a certificate conforming to the model in Part 1, Annex E of the Directive.
Primates may be traded only between ‘approved
premises’ under Article 13 of Directive
92/65/EEC .
They must also be accompanied by a health certificate conforming to the
model in Part 3, Annex E of the Directive. In order to be granted approval,
bodies, institutes or centres must comply with the conditions laid down
in Annex C of the Directive.
Animals such as elephants and zoo carnivores are officially covered by the ‘Balai’ Directive 92/65/EEC but no conditions are laid down for them. As a result, conditions for such exports are subject to bilateral agreements between trading States.
Anyone wishing to trade in these animals should have their premises either 'registered' under Article 4, or 'approved' under Article 13 of the Directive 92/65/EEC.
Note:
Premises that are approved for trade under the ‘Balai’ Directive need to comply with any other current local authority or licensing requirements such as those for The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 or the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (as amended). Those premises which import and keep animals subject to the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and other Mammals) Order 1974, will need to be inspected and approved separately under that Order.
In addition, traders should always consult the Global Wildlife Division in Bristol to find out if CITES permits are required.
Defra Wildlife Licensing and Registration Services, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6EB, Tel: 0117 372 8168 or www.ukcites.gov.uk.
Registered Holding
A registered holding is a premises which meets the requirements of Article 4 of the Balai Directive 92/65/EEC. In order to become registered, the owner/operator of the premises must agree to comply with the following requirements:
- have the animals which are resident on the premises examined regularly by a veterinarian;
- notify the Defra Divisional Veterinary Manager of the local Animal Health Divisional Office (AHDO) of any outbreaks of notifiable disease;
- comply with any measures introduced by Defra to carry out the monitoring or surveillance of disease;
- certify for trade only animals which come from holdings or areas not subject to animal health restrictions and which are accompanied by the appropriate certification;
- ensure that the welfare of the animals are protected.
Owners/operators who wish to have their premises registered must complete and submit application form EC 3163 (2/05) to their local AHDO or apply direct to the local AHDO. The form must be signed, dated and the position of the applicant written below the signature, e.g. owner, manager, company secretary, etc. If the premises meet the requirements it will be allocated a ‘registration number’ which may be used for trade purposes.
Flowcharts 2 and 3
(45 KB) show possible scenarios for certification of animals other than
primates, which should be used as a guide. If you are in doubt, please
contact your local AHDO
Note: There is NO requirement for the premises of destination to be registered. ONLY premises of origin need to be registered.
Approval of premises
If you would like your premises to be approved for trade it must comply with Article 13 and Annex C of Directive 92/65/EEC. The premises must be free from the diseases listed in Annex A of the Directive. Animals consigned to another Member State must be accompanied by a certificate conforming to Annex E of the Directive. Annexes A, C and E of the Directive have been amended to include more demanding conditions. The details are listed below.
Approved premises must meet strict functional requirements. No premises may be approved unless they are meant for one or more of the following purposes:
- display of the animals and education of the public;
- conservation of the species;
- basic or applied scientific research or breeding of animals for the purposes of such research.
If you wish to have your premises approved for intra-Community trade, please contact your local AHDO for a copy of the Guidance Notes and checklist referred to in the application form EC 3164 (4/07). Please read these notes before completing the form. The veterinary surgeon who you wish to act as the approved veterinarian must also complete part of the application form. Once completed, please submit application form to AHDO as above.
Flowchart 1 (15 KB) shows how certification of primates to be moved to other
Member States works and it should be used as a guide. If you require any
further advice, please contact your local AHDO or Veterinary Science Core Team, EU Policy, Nobel House (Tel 020 7238 6847).
Movement from and to approved premises
Traders must move animals from approved premises in Great Britain to similarly approved premises in another Member State.
Traders are responsible for checking that animals are consigned to an approved destination premises.
Traders should request written confirmation from destination premise that it is approved. If they are unable to do so, they should contact their local AHDO or International Animal Health Services Divisional Unit in Lincoln, Tel: 01522 563132.
Movement from approved premises to a non-approved premises
In certain cases, it is possible to consign animals (other than primates) from an approved premises to non-approved premises in another Member State. However, they must be moved in accordance with the conditions of the destination Authority so that there is no risk of possible spread of disease.
It is also possible for certain animals to be moved from an approved premises to a non-approved premises within the same Member State, but with the approval of the competent authority. Traders are advised to contact their local AHDO for further information.
For movement within Great Britain, non-domestic animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, deer etc. must have come from a holding of origin since birth, or kept in holding for at least 30 days before dispatch.
A Customer Information Note (GEN/08/63) giving information about a recent workshop held at Twycross Zoo on Animal Movement is available here.
Page last modified:
7 May, 2008