Importer information Note (IIN) for the importation of hatching eggs and day-old chicks into England(IIN A/8)
Contents
- Important
- Introduction
- Conditions applicable to imports from EU Member States
- Conditions applicable to consignments of fewer than 20 hatching eggs or day-old chicks from EU Member States
- Conditions applicable to imports from Norway and Switzerland
- Conditions applicable to imports from third countries
- Welfare of animals during transport
- Contact for information
- Caution
Important
i. These notes explain the conditions which apply to imports of hatching eggs and day-old chicks from EU Member States and specified Third Countries (countries outside of the EU) into England.
ii. These notes should be read in conjunction with the notes describing the veterinary checks applicable to all live animals and genetic material imported into England (Importer Information Note IIN A/1).
iii. These notes are for guidance only. They do not give comprehensive coverage of all conditions laid down in EU and national legislation and have no legal force. Importers must satisfy themselves that hatching eggs and day-old chicks are imported in accordance with all the relevant legislation. The authoritative legal position can be found in the appropriate national legislation and European Community Directives and Decisions.
iv. Specimen copies of model health certificates referred to in this note can be sent to traders or importers on request.
v. Personal data may be stored and processed by Defra on computer systems. Defra complies with the standards set by the Data Protection Act.
NB: These notes may not cover situations where emergency safeguard action has been taken, e.g. to prohibit the importation of certain animals from certain countries following an outbreak of serious disease in those countries. Importers are advised to contact the Department to check if any safeguard action has been taken in relation to the animals/country of origin. Outbreaks and procedure information can be found in our Customer Information Notes (CINs) and within our Declarations website.
Introduction
1. “Poultry” is defined in Council Directive 90/539/EEC (as amended) as fowls, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, quails, pigeons, pheasants, partridges and ratites reared or kept in captivity for breeding, the production of meat or eggs for consumption, or for re-stocking supplies of game.
2. “Hatching eggs” are defined as eggs for incubation laid by poultry (as defined above).
3. “Day-old chicks” are defined as all poultry (as defined above) that are less than 72 hours old, not fed; however muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) or their crosses may be fed.
4. For guidance on importing live birds and other animals and products please see the relevant Importer Information Notes (IINs).
5. Council Directive 90/539/EEC, and this note, do not apply to the importation of poultry for exhibitions, shows or contests. Poultry for exhibition, show or contest must meet the requirements for captive birds as detailed in our Importer Information Notes (IINs)
6. The importation of hatching eggs and day-old chicks into England from other EU Member States and from Norway is provided for in the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) Regulations 2006 (SI No. 1471). All hatching eggs and day-old chicks imported from other Member States and from Norway must comply with EU animal health rules governing intra-Community trade.
7. . Importers requiring details of the health conditions should contact the relevant Department (Defra - England; Scotland - Scottish Executive; Wales - National Assembly for Wales; Northern Irealand - Department for Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland (DARDNI)).
Conditions applicable to imports from EU Member States
8. All hatching eggs and day-old chicks imported from other Member States must comply with the conditions of Council Directive 90/539/EEC (as amended). Conditions applicable to imports of fewer than 20 hatching eggs or day-old chicks (not including eggs and chicks of ratites) from EU Members States and Norway can be found at paragraph 12 below.
9. For consignments of 20 or more hatching eggs or day-old chicks (or any number of ratite hatching eggs or day-old chicks), Council Directive 90/539/EEC, in general, requires that:
i. hatching eggs (other than in lot of less than 20) must originate from premises which have been approved by the veterinary authorities in the country of origin in accordance with the detailed requirements laid down
ii. all hatching eggs and day-old chicks must be accompanied by an original health certificate which conforms to the relevant model laid down in the Directive and which is signed by an official veterinarian of the exporting Member State. The health certificate must:
- be completed on the day of loading
- consist of a single sheet
- be made out to a single consignee
- be stamped and signed with ink of a different colour to that of the certificate
- be valid for 5 days
10. Consignments of hatching eggs and day-old chicks must travel in containers or boxes which:
- are unused, purpose-made disposable containers (to be used only once) or re-usable containers which have been cleansed and disinfected before each new consignment
- contain only birds/eggs of the same species, category and type from a single establishment
- are labelled with the name of the Member State and region of origin, the number of chicks/eggs, the species and the establishment number of the premises or hatchery of origin
11. Boxes may be placed in other containers for transportation purposes with the information in paragraph 10 shown on the container.
Conditions applicable to consignments of fewer than 20 hatching eggs or day-old chicks from EU Member States
12. In general, Council Directive 90/539/EEC requires that consignments of fewer than 20 poultry (not including eggs or chicks of ratites), must at the time of consignment, have come from flocks which:
i. have been held in the EU Community since hatching or for at least 3 months;
ii. present no clinical signs of contagious poultry disease at the time of consignment;
iii. satisfy the vaccination conditions of Annex III of 90/539/EEC (if they are vaccinated);
iv. are not the subject of any animal health restrictions applicable to poultry;
v. are not located within an area which for animal health reasons is subject to restrictive measures in accordance with Community legislation as a result of an outbreak of diease to which poultry is susceptible.
vi. all consignments of poultry must be accompanied by an original health certificate which conforms to the model 4 certificate laid down in Annex IV of the Directive and signed by an official veterinarian of the exporting Member State. The health certificate must:
- be completed on the day of loading
- consist of a single sheet
- be made out to a single consignee
- be stamped and signed with ink of a different colour to that of the certificate
- be valid for 5 day
Conditions applicable to imports from Norway and Switzerland
13. As a signatory of the European Economic Area Agreement, Norway and Switzerland have agreed to implement EU veterinary legislation in relation to the movement of live animals and eggs between member countries. Therefore hatching eggs and day-old chicks imported from Norway and Switzerland must comply with the same requirements which apply to trade within the EU. However, consignments must enter the EU through an approved Border Inspection Post (see IIN A/1).
Conditions applicable to imports from Third Countries
14. . In accordance with the requirements of Directive 90/539/EEC (as amended) the European Community has drawn up a list of Third Countries from which EU Member States may import hatching eggs and day-old chicks. Member States are not permitted to allow imports of hatching eggs and day-old chicks from countries not on the list.
15. The approved Third Country list for live poultry imports can be found in Annex I Part I of Commission Decision 2006/696/EC.
16. Hatching eggs and day-old chicks from Third Countries must also comply with the rules laid down in Council Directive 90/539/EEC (as amended). Consignments must be accompanied by health certification in accordance with the relevant models laid down in Commission Decision 2006/696/EC.
The egg certificate in Decision 2006/696 has been revised under Commission Regulation No. 1237/2007 
141 KB).
Welfare of animals during transport
17. Importers are reminded that they must comply with rules on the welfare of animals during transport. If unfamiliar with the rules, importers should contact Defra’s Welfare Branch on 020 7904 6576 or the Animal Health Welfare in Transport Section 0845 603 8395. or visit: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare
Contact for information
18. For information on importing hatching eggs, day-old chicks, and other live animals and animal derived products, please contact:
Animal Health Import Team
Government Offices
Beeches Road
Chelmsford
Essex CM1 2RU
Tel: 01245 358383
E-mail: AHITchelmsford@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk
Caution
1. Consignments presented for import at a UK Border Inspection Post (BIP) must be accompanied by the original health certificate(s); faxed or photocopied certificates are not acceptable. The Official Veterinary Surgeon (OVS) will carry out veterinary checks (for which a charge will be levied) in accordance with EU legislation. On completion of these checks he will issue a Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED). The CVED should accompany the consignment to the first point of destination. The OVS will retain the original certification. Consignments checked in another Member State must be accompanied by a CVED issued from the point of entry into the European Community.
2. Whilst every attempt is made to keep this information note current, import conditions may change, and importers are responsible for checking the current status of the requirements. Safeguard measures which prohibit imports from countries affected by animal diseases, or other public or animal health hazards can prohibit or restrict import at very short notice. Requirements can be checked on the Defra website. Outbreaks and procedure information can also be found in our Customer Information Notes (CINs).
Alternatively, amendments to EU legislation are available on the Commission website.
Community legislation – consolidated texts
3. Consolidated texts, which integrate the basic instruments of Community legislation with their amendments and corrections in a single, non-official document, are available on the Commission website. Each consolidated text contains a list of all legal documents taken into account for its construction. Therefore, a comparison with the data in the 'Directory of Community legislation in force' will allow users to easily check how up to date the consolidated text is. Texts provided in this section are intended for information only. Please note that these texts have no legal value. For legal purposes please refer to the texts published in the 'Official Journal of the European Communities'.
4. Importers should note that the information given relates only to animal health conditions of import. It does not give guidance on other controls which may need to be met. An information page, giving details of other organisations which importers may need to consult, is available.
Page last modified:
26 October, 2007
Page published: 27 June, 2006