International trade: Animal Movement Workshop - (7/8 February 2008 at Twycross Zoo)
Questions and answers
General
Is there a centralised Unit in Defra to deal with zoos?
No, however different Teams in Defra deals with work relating to zoos.
- International Trade Core Function is responsible for Animal Health policy and Veterinary certification for Intra-Community trade (ICT) in live animals and imports from third countries.
- CITES is responsible for Zoo Licensing and Policy.
- Animal Health is responsible for inspection and approval of bodies, institutes and centres, enforcement and certification.
- Animal Welfare Transport is responsible for policy relating to live animals during transport.
- Rabies Review is responsible for enforcing the quarantine policy relating to rabies susceptible animal imported into the UK.
Matt Hartley (Head of Wildlife, Aquatic and Zoological Animal Health) chairs the Food and Farming Group Zoo Liaison Committee and provides co-ordination for animal health and welfare issues relating to zoos across Defra. He can be contacted as a first point of call.
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Balai Directive
What is the Balai Directive 92/65/EEC?
It is a piece of EC legislation which provides a framework of rules for trade between member States in live animals and genetic materials and imports from third countries, for those species not covered elsewhere by EU legislation for specific domestic species.
What is an approved body?
Approved bodies, institutes or centres are defined in the Directive as "permanent, geographically limited establishments where one or more species of animal are habitually kept or bred, whether or not for commercial ends, and exclusively 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
What type of premises become approved bodies, institutes or centres?
Zoos, wildlife parks and laboratories are the type of premises which would become approved under the Directive.
What species does the Balai Directive specifically apply to?
In practice it applies to primates, zoo animals, certain captive birds and exotic species for display, education, conservation or research programmes and laboratory animals.
It also specifically applies to movements of semen of ovine, caprine and equine species and ova and embryos of ovine, caprine, equine and swine. See the attached list which sets out the species of animals and the associated requirements for trade 
(120 KB) .
What is the difference between ‘registered’ and ‘approved’?
An ‘approved’ premises meets a higher standard of disease security because the conditions for it to become approved are much stricter than those that a ‘registered’ premises must meet.
What is the advantage of becoming ‘approved’?
The main advantage is that it makes it simpler to move animals from an approved premises to a similarly approved premises within the UK or in another Member State for one of the purposes stated in Article 2c of the Directive. The requirements on certification which must accompany animals from an approved premises is less strict than those for movements from a registered premises.
If a premises is ‘registered’ – what does that mean?
It means that the owner/person in charge of a premises has signed an undertaking in accordance with Article 4 of EC Directive 92/65/EEC to carry out certain functions such as reporting of cases of notifiable disease etc. It also provides a means for intra Community trade in certain animals covered by EC Directive 92/65.
If a premises is ‘approved’, what does that mean?
It means that the premises has been inspected in accordance with Article 13 of EC Directive 92/65 by a Defra Veterinary Officer and confirmed to meet the requirements of Annex C of that Directive.
Is there a list of Balai approved premises in the UK?
Yes this list contains details of bodies, institutes and centres which currently hold approval under the Balai Directive.
Is there an approved list for EU establishments and how current is it?
The EU list is not up to date – the current version is 4 years old. However, we have compiled a list based on correspondence from Member State competent authorities confirming the approval status of a particular establishment prior to animal movement.
Are there any occasions when it is not ‘easy’ to move animals from approved premises?
The ability to move animals more ‘easily’ is dependent upon the premises in the receiving Member State having been approved in accordance with Article 13 of EC Directive 92/65 or the competent authority of that Member State having confirmed that it meets those requirements. Some Member States are not as advanced in implementation of this Directive as the UK. The UK continues to work with other Member States to help facilitate implementation through providing information.
How will Defra ensure that Balai guidance application is consistent in all Animal Health Division Offices (AHDOs)?
The revised Guidance will be issued to all approved bodies and AHDOs. However, approved bodies need to develop a working relationship with AHDO to ensure appropriate and practical application of the guidance.
Why does Defra require a Balai approval number on TRACES certificates?
Directive 92/65/EEC requires that the unique approval number be inserted on all document accompanying animals.
Does Balai apply to the private sector (pet shops)?
No, Balai does not apply to them. Pet shops are regulated by different legislation.
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Whole vs partial approval
Do all collections within a premises need to be approved?
Partial approvals for individual buildings will no longer be issued. Balai approval will be awarded on the basis of the whole premises having appropriate procedure for health management, isolation quarantine preventative medicine regimes and risk management.
When will partial approval be phased out?
Defra intend to bring in this requirements over a 2 to 3 year period. This will increase the advantages with regard to Third Country import rules.
What can a premises who currently have part of their premises approved do to gain approval of the whole premises
Premises will need to demonstrate that they have added animal protocols, routine preventative medicine programmes and disease surveillance systems which minimise the risk of introducing disease into the premises. Biosecurity is a key component of managing disease risks and guidance has been developed by a joint Defra/Zoo Working Group to assist in putting appropriate mechanisms in place.
Specific disease
Bio-security
What can a premises do to meet approval status if they have free roaming wildlife within the grounds ?
We are producing guidance which will provide clear and practical guidelines on how this can be achieved. Once the guidance is completed it will be made accessible to appropriate parties.
If the whole premises becomes approved and had a case of TB or Brucellosis in a deer, how will Defra deal with it?
It will depend on the type of TB and if it is a disease which appears on Annex A of Directive 92/65/.
If disease occurs in psittacines whilst a premises is approved, will this stop movement of primates?
A protocol has been developed for dealing with this situation.
How would an outbreak of a disease only affecting one species/taxa affect the approval status of other species / taxa on the same premises?
This detail is being finalised but it is likely that the premises would loose approval for species susceptible to the disease which has been diagnosed. Other species would not be affected and could be moved as normal.
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Primates
Will Defra lift the requirement for double signature of primate health certificates?
The requirement for double-signature is a long-standing policy. Defra is willing to review this policy, sometime in the future.
Cana premises have walk through enclosures for primates?
Yes, by putting in place a Zoonotic Disease Plan which include walk through for humans. Guidance has been produced on this issue.
Post mortems
Will the new guidance require all animalswhich die to receive a post-mortem?
No. Post mortem reports should be presented for a minimum of 50% of animals which die If there are instances where this figure can’t be met then it must be justified by the approved Veterinarian and submitted to the local Authority annually in accordance with the Zoo Licensing Act. A quarterly report should be completed by the approved veterinarian and this should report:
- Details of the cases;
- Disease trends;
- Zoonotic disease cases;
- Isolation/Quarantine cases; and
- Justification of proportion of animals submitted for post mortem.
Quarantine
Will rabies quarantine be dropped for UK or EU Balai Approved Institutions or where animals lived for more than 6 months with no sign of rabies?
Rabies quarantine is currently under review. Public consultation and two risk assessments have been undertaken. Further information is available from the Rabies website.
Why are there so few Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) for live animals?
It is a commercial decision whether an port/airport wants to gain approval to become a Border Inspection Post. BIPs must have facilities meeting the requirements of EU law and may operate only after listing following satisfactory inspection by the European Commission..
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CITES
Can by-products i.e. faeces, blood from elephants be imported under CITES or TRACES certificate?
If the derivative is from a CITES listed species then CITES permits are required apart from faeces which is exempt from CITES controls.
What is the latest situation on CITES Ports of entry consultation?
The consultation revealed that there were some problems with the proposals and core-Defra is now considering the best approach to solving these problems whilst at the same time remaining within the health requirements. Defra are also aware of the problems for the Channel Islands and are trying to take their particular concerns into account.
Are you aware of progress on derogation for scientific specimens ?
There has been no progress on this since the Conference Of the Parties No. 13 (This is the only international decision making body for CITES proposals/changes and meets every 2 to 3 years. At CoP 13 (held in 2004) the proposal to allow genetic samples/DNA samples to be exempt from CITES controls failed to attract the necessary two thirds majority and thus was not adopted.
Is there a list of European zoos that hold Article 60 certificates
There is no consolidated EU-wide list and UK Zoos would need to contact the UK CITES Management Authority to ask the relevant authority on their behalf
Who is responsible for the certification of CITES controlled products for diagnostic purposes?
The UK CITES management authority is responsible (WLRS in Animal Health Agency) for certification of CITES controlled products for diagnostic purposes. A UK Zoo may apply to be registered as a scientific institution under Article 52 of the CITES Regulations which would then allow them to use “labels” to exchange preserved specimens with other scientific institutions thus negating the need for import/export permits.
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Transport of live animals
How are zoos affected by the Council Regulation 1/2005 on animal welfare during transportation.
If a zoo undertakes a journey for economic reasons then this will fall within the scope of the Regulation. It is for the zoo to determine whether a particular journey is economic or not and it is the responsibility of the transporter to comply with the rules. Defra and Animal Health can provide advice. The Welfare in Transport Helpline’s details are - Tel: 0845 603 8395 or email to: wit@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk
Does ‘farmed’ animals under Regs 1/2005 include farmed exotic species such as llamas, ostriches etc and are exotic pheasants defined as poultry?
See question below. ‘Poultry’ is taken to mean domestic fowl, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea, fowl, quails, pheasants and partridges.
Is there a definitive list of species that this legislation applies to?
No. The Regulation applies to all vertebrate animals transported in connection with economic activity i.e. business or trade.
What does farmed livestock mean according to Regulation 1/2005?
‘Farmed livestock’ according to the Regulation means domestic animals of the bovine, ovine, caprine or porcine species. The interpretation therefore applies to afore-mentioned species held in zoos in the same way as they would if held on farms. This would also apply to domestic Equidae.
Training for Transport Regulation - Is there a syllabus for either college or industry based training?
The precise format and who may provide training is not specified in the EC Regulation 1/2005. Training may be by means of on-the-job instruction combined with practical experience or by formal methods such as those leading to standards equivalent to qualifications accredited into the National Qualifications Framework via industry or colleges. There are also other training media available e.g. books and interactive DVDs. It is for the individual to determine exactly what level of training is required.
Competence certificates are required for those who transport livestock as defined above including domestic equidae and poultry. Details of how to obtain a certificate, together with contact details for designated awarding bodies can be found on Defra website.
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Notifiable disease
Do all laboratories in other EU Member States have facilities to carry out testing for Annex A diseases?
A list of laboratories exists on the EU website but if a country does not have a laboratory for Annex A disease then they may have to use the Central Reference Laboratory (CRL).
FMD
How often does Defra review the list of animals susceptible to FMD?
The list of susceptible species is determined at EU level based on scientific evidence. Priorities are given in respect of movement of ruminants and pigs. Problems have occurred with regard to movements of African elephants, Asian elephants and Tapirs.
How long can RNA viral remain in birds?
We don’t know but Defra would encourage zoos to vaccinate birds and put results in veterinary record or at least publish them to help develop knowledge base.
If all UK establishments become approved, what can be done to ensure all other Member States also become approved?
The UK have regular contact with the Commission and other Member States on this matter and have offered copies of our written guidance to assist other Member States in their implementation.
The principles behind Balai are desirable but difficult to implement in practice. What happens if a disease listed in Annex A is brought in from another Member States?
There should be a shared responsibility between approved establisments and Defra in ensuring that diseased animals are not brought into the country. However, these establishments should carry out appropriate assessments to ensure movements pose negligible risk.
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Avian Influenza
Can zoo birds be vaccinated against AI?
Yes. Zoos in England can apply to Animal Health for permission to vaccinate their birds, subject to meeting certain eligibility criteria, such as operating high levels of biosecurity. To be eligible to vaccinate, zoos must satisfy these criteria and birds defined by law as being of significant conservational merit.
Can zoo move AI vaccinated birds?
Yes, they can move them.
Avian Influenza vaccinated birds – Is there a requirement to test birds moving from approved to approved premises?
Yes, subject to testing negative for virus. PCR tests, required prior to movement, would involve testing of one cloacal or oropharyngeal sample from each bird. These tests would be based on DIVA principles and currently cost £13.40 per sample – charges may be subject to change. However, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency is investigating ways in which different samples can be examined together, which will significantly reduce costs. Further information is available on the Defra website.
Tuberculosis
How frequent can zoos/parks test animals for TB?
TB testing: domestic species of cattle at zoos and safari parks should normally be subjected to routine tuberculin testing as per the normal testing interval for the area in which the zoo is located. However, there is still a considerable amount of Divisional Veterinary Manager’s (DVMs) discretion applied in this area. Animal Health (AH) website provides some guidance as far as other bovine animals including bison and Asiatic water buffalo that may be kept in zoos. All other animals in zoos are exempted from statutory TB testing and, in any case, there is no recognised, approved screening test for TB in species other than bovines and deer.
TB screening of non-bovine animals kept in zoological collections (e.g. elephants, hippopotamuses, antelopes, camelids, primates, etc, etc.) is done on a private, voluntary basis at the zoo's own expense and risk and based on the opinion of their own private veterinary advisers. Any such animals reacting to a screening, ante-mortem test for TB would not be notifiable to the DVM. Zoo managers or vets, like any other keepers of exotic mammals, are only required to notify culture-confirmed cases of M. bovis infection in "exotic" mammals (Article 20 of the Tuberculosis (England) Order 2007). Additionally, they must also notify any suspected tuberculous carcases of bovine animals and deer (as per the same order and the TB (Deer) Order 1989) kept in zoos.
Slaughter: Defra only have legal powers to slaughter certain bovines (domestic cattle of the genus Bos, bison and buffalo) and deer that are affected or suspected of being affected with TB. This includes reactors to one of the approved ante-mortem tests for tuberculosis in those species.
Anti-TB therapy: The prohibition to treat animals for TB in the TB Orders applies only to 'bovine animals' (as defined above) and deer. For other species, including those kept as pets or in zoological collections, there are no statutory powers to prevent anti-TB treatment if the owners wish to pursue that route, although we would strongly advise against that course of action and recommend euthanasia on animal and public health grounds.
How do you test TB in Oryx ?
Zoos could carry out risk analysis on susceptible and non-susceptible animals to see how disease case occurs.
Is TB always notifiable regardless of species?
Mycobacterium (bovis) is not notifiable in some species. Mycobacterium (tuberculosis) is not notifiable however, a routine test is require depending on type and species.
If TB in found in deer in an approved zoo will it stop movement of other animals?
Movement restrictions: In addition to the specific powers for bovines and deer, Defra have legal powers to isolate and stop movements of animals of any species affected or suspected of being affected with TB (Article 18 of the Tuberculosis (England) Order 2007). In general, such powers are only invoked whenever infection with M. bovis has been isolated from animals kept on the premises in question (zoo or otherwise), or upon disclosure of a tuberculin reactor bovine or deer kept in a zoo.
Article 18 restrictions will remain in place until successful completion of a programme of repeated testing with the intra-dermal comparative test or any other diagnostic test that is considered suitable for the species concerned. Failing that, the premises may remain under long-term restrictions until all the animal in the group of affected animals have died or been voluntarily slaughtered. The exact protocol for the withdrawal of TB restrictions from a zoological collection or safari park will have to be based on an epidemiological investigation and risk assessment of the individual breakdown.
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7 May, 2008