Exporting Dogs and Cats to Egypt

31 March 2010

domaniec.egy

Ref: AE-EG-09L

1. Statutory authority

Pursuant to section 60 of the Animal Products Act 1999:

(i) I notify the following overseas market access requirements, entitled dogs and cats to Egypt.

This notice takes effect from date of signing.

Dated at Wellington this 28^th day of June 2010.

Signed: Matthew Stone BVSc MACVSc MVS (Epidemiology)
Group Manager
Animal Imports and Exports
Border Standards Directorate
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
(pursuant to delegated authority)

2. Egypt requirements

Dogs and cats exported from New Zealand to Egypt, must comply with the import requirements of Egypt listed in this notice as follows:

2.1 An Official Veterinarian of the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry must certify, after due enquiry, the following:

2.1.1 A microchip is implanted in the animal (number, location, and date of implant to be completed).

2.1.2 The animal has been vaccinated against rabies (manufacturer and name of vaccine, batch number, vaccination date, validity to be completed). The animal must be three months old at the time of rabies vaccination.

2.1.3 An official record of the result of the serological test for the animal has been sighted. This test was carried out at an EU-approved laboratory and the result states the date and sample was taken and that the rabies neutralising antibody titre was equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml. Animals are only eligible to enter Egypt once a period of three months has lapsed after the positive antibody titre.

2.1.4 The certification must be accompanied by supporting documentation, or a certified copy of it, including vaccination details and the result of the serological test. This documentation must bear identification details of the animal concerned.

2.1.5 The animal must be first microchipped and then vaccinated against rabies.

2.2 A local veterinarian of New Zealand must certify the following:

2.2.1 The animal has been treated, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, between 24 and 48 hours prior to export with a fipronil-based product effective against ticks, and a praziquantel-based product effective against Echinococcus multilocularis; (manufacturer and name of product, date and time of treatment, name, details and signature of veterinarian must be completed).

3. Definitions

For the purposes of this document:

Any term or expression that is defined in the Animal Products Act 1999 and used, but not defined in this document, has the same meaning as in this Act.

Explanatory note

These overseas market access requirements are based on the new export certificate for dogs and cats to Egypt dated 31 March 2010.

Additional Information on OMAR Notification: DOMANIEC.EGY 31.03.10

1. This OMAR is based on EU regulations 998/2003.

2. No Import Permit is required for Egypt, unless the cat or dog is travelling to Egypt on a ship. Owners should contact the Egyptian Embassy in Canberra to request import permission.

Embassy of Egypt
Address: 1 Darvin Avenue, Yarralumla, 2600, Canberra, Australia.
Telephone: (+612) 62734437
Telephone: (+612) 62734438
Email: egyembassy@bigpond.com

3. The certificate shall consist of a single sheet, i.e. it must be printed on both sides.

4. The Official Veterinarian must fill in parts I to V. Animals are only eligible for importation into Egypt once a period of three months has elapsed after the positive rabies antibody titre.

5. The address to be completed in part I will be the New Zealand address.

6. The animal must be accompanied by a passenger as personal baggage (if airline allows) or in the hold of the aircraft.

7. The animal must only be identified with a microchip, not with a tattoo. If the microchip does not comply with ISO standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785, the owner or exporter responsible on behalf of the owner must provide the necessary means for reading the microchip at inspection in the importing country.

8. Local veterinarians must complete the treatment in part VI and VII 24-48 hours prior to shipment.

9. This export certificate is only valid for four months after the Official Veterinarian has signed the certificate in part V, or until the expiry date of the vaccine, whichever is earlier.

10. The certificate must be accompanied by supporting documentation, or a certified copy of it, including vaccination details and the result of the rabies serological test. This documentation must bear identification details of the animal concerned.

11. The EU approved laboratory is the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL). MAF recommends that the blood sample is forwarded to the NZ Animal Health Reference Laboratory (part of the Investigation and Diagnostic Centre), which is experienced in preparing the blood sample, packaging it correctly and sending it to the approved testing laboratory with the appropriate permits.

12. The blood sample required for the rabies serological test must be taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.

Section 61.A of the Animal Products Amendments Act 2005 states that 'The Crown is not liable, and nor is the Director-General or any employee of the Ministry liable, for any loss arising through the refusal or failure of the relevant authority of an overseas market to admit export animal material or animal product to that market'.