Instructions for filling the Health Certificate for the non-commercial movement into the EU from Canada of dogs, cats and ferrets

Generalities

• Corrections on the health certificate cannot be made with white-out. Where necessary, corrections can be made by crossing out and initialing the change. If at all possible, it is preferable to re-print the document and fill it anew.
• The document must be printed on letter sized paper (8.5 × 11 in).
• The certificate must be signed in blue ink.
• Some sections will require strike-outs (indicated by the reference keep as appropriate) and are performed by tracing a single straight line (the use of a ruler is highly recommended) through the applicable text. Each strike-out must be initialled by the person who performed it. It is important that strike-outs only be made in sections that permit them, otherwise, the certificate may be rendered invalid. The strike-out must be made in a manner that still allows the underlying text to be read.
• The date format indicated in the certificate must be followed.

Part I: Details of dispatched consignment

Section I.1 – Consignor: The consignor is the person responsible for the animal(s) in Canada. Enter the name and the coordinates (address and phone number) of this person in Canada.

Section I.2 – Certificate reference number: Please leave this section blank as this number is assigned by the CFIA District Office at the time of endorsement.

Section I.3 – Central Competent Authority: As the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the competent authority in all cases, this section has been pre-filled.

Section I.4 – Local Competent Authority: Please leave this section blank as it will be filled by the CFIA with District of (district name inserted here).

Section I.5 – Consignee: The consignee is the person responsible for the animal(s) once arrived in the European Union. Enter the name and the coordinates of this person in the EU. As the non-commercial movement does not allow for transfer of ownership, the name of the consignee should be the same as the name of the consignor. The consignee address is the address in the Member State of first destination.

Section I.7 – Country of Origin: As it is Canada in every case, this section has been pre-filled.

Section I.18 – Description of commodity: In this section, only the species (common names) is entered: dog(s) and/or cat(s) and/or ferret(s). Do not write the name(s) of the animal(s) or any further details.

Section I.19 – Commodity code (HS code): This section is pre-filled with the applicable code. No additional information needs to be entered.

Section I.20 – Quantity: If only one species of animal is listed on the certificate, a single number needs to be entered: 1, 2, 3, etc. If the certificate is used for pets of various species, please indicate how many of each species: 1 dog, 2 cats.

Section I.25 - Commodities certified for: As there is only one option available (pets), it has been pre-filled.

Section I.28 – Identification of the commodities: Each animal must be listed individually in this section.

Part II – Certification

This section contains all the requirements imposed by the EU in order for the animal(s) to enter under non-commercial movements. Careful attention must be paid to ensure that all requirements are met and appropriately documented on the certificate. The following information is to clarify or provide further information on the statements contained in the certificate.

Article II.1 – Purpose/nature of journey attested by the owner:

This section confirms that the movement is of a non-commercial nature. The declaration by the owner must be completed on the form supplied at the end of the certificate (part III). Documentary evidence (boarding pass, flight ticket, airline itinerary, reservation confirmation) must be shown to the certifying veterinarian to support the claim that the movement is done at the same time as the movement of the owner, or within five (5) days. The certificate must indicate who has responsibility over the animal(s) during the travel: the owner, a natural person authorised in writing by the owner to carry out the movement on behalf of the owner (for example, a friend or a family member accompanying the animal or placing it on a flight) or a natural person designated by a carrier contracted by the owner to carry out the non-commercial movement on behalf of the owner (for example, an agent from a pet relocation company). The selection is indicated by striking out the non-applicable options, leaving a single selection.

Article II.2 – Purpose/nature of journey attested by the owner (continued):

Only a single article II.2 is selected by striking out the statement that doesn't apply. If the second statement is selected (more than 5 animals), then a second strike-out is required to indicate which type of documentary evidence (receipt of entry into the event, proof of membership) was provided to support this information.

Article II.3 – Attestation of rabies vaccination and rabies antibody titration test: there are two different article II.3's depending on the age of the animal at the time of travel. At least one article must be selected but both could be left on the certificate as they both could apply if more than one animal was listed on the certificate.

First option: the animals described in Box I.28 are less than 12 weeks old and have not received an anti-rabies vaccination, or are between 12 and 16 weeks old and have received an anti-rabies vaccination, but 21 days at least have not elapsed since the completion of the primary vaccination against rabies carried out in accordance with the validity requirements set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, and

II.3.1 the territory or third country of provenance of the animals indicated in Box I.1 is listed in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 and the Member State of destination indicated in Box I.5 has informed the public that it authorises the movement of such animals into its territory, and they are accompanied by

This option implies that the exporter has already verified that the country of destination allows the movement of animals less than 3 months of age. This information can be found on each Member States websites, for which the links are posted on National Rules Applying to Entry of Pet Dogs, Cats and Ferrets of Less than 3 Months (Non-Vaccinated Against Rabies).

A single option must be chosen for sub-article II.3.2. A template for the owner's declaration is available to be attached to the certificate if the first sub-article is chosen. If the young animal qualifies because of its mother, then documentary evidence that the mother qualifies must be presented. The selection is made by striking out the statement that does not apply.

Second option: ^{Footnote (1)} or/and [II.3. the animals described in Box I.28 were at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination against rabies and at least 21 days have elapsed since the completion of the primary anti-rabies vaccination carried out in accordance with the validity requirements set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 and any subsequent revaccination was carried out within the period of validity of the preceding vaccination; and

In this case a single option must be chosen for II.3.1, depending on the routing chosen to travel to the EU from Canada. Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 577/2013 lists Canada so it is expected that the first article will apply in most cases as the majority of movements are direct to the EU, without travelling through other countries. It should be noted that the first article also applies when the animal transits via the USA, as the country is also listed in Annex II. This option also applies to an animal that was legally imported into Canada from a country not listed in Annex II, irrelevant to the length of stay in Canada, provided that the certificate can be adequately completed. If the vaccine is a re-vaccination, the wait period of 21 days is not required, but proof that it is a re-vaccination must be supplied if the animal travels within the first 21 days post-booster. In this case, the details for the previous vaccine must be provided in the addendum supplied at the end of the certificate.

The second option would apply if the animal was not transported directly to the EU and transited through a country not appearing in Annex II. However, if the transit through a country not appearing in Annex II is limited to very specific circumstances (during such transit the pet animals have no contact with animals of species susceptible to rabies and remain secured within a means of transport or within the perimeter of an international airport), then the first option can apply provided the owner or authorised person provides a declaration to that effect.

Completion of the table:

• Transponder or tattoo alphanumeric code of the animal: self-explanatory.
• Date of implantation and/or reading of the transponder or tattoo: this date must predate all other procedures listed in the certificate. In other words, the rabies vaccine(s), titre test (if applicable) and parasite treatment must all be done on or after the transponder application or reading date. The EU does not consider valid any procedure done before the application of a microchip. In cases where the date of application is not known, a reading (before any other procedures) will qualify.
• Date of vaccination: self-explanatory
• Name and manufacturer of the vaccine: trade name of product and manufacturer mandatory
• Batch number: self-explanatory
• Validity of vaccination from/to: in case of primary vaccination (very first vaccination in the life of the animal, or first vaccination after the insertion of a microchip), the from date is the establishment of protective immunity (the time needed by the immune system to adequately develop defense against the rabies virus), which cannot be less than 21 days after vaccination. In case of booster vaccination, when performed before the end of validity of the previous vaccination, the from date is usually the date of administration. The to date represents the end of the validity in the animal, based on manufacturer's recommendation. It is not the expiry date of the vial of vaccine.
• Date of blood sampling: a date is only entered there if the second option of article II.3.1 was chosen.
• Unused lines in the rabies vaccination table should be struck out and initialled.

Article II.4 – Attestation of anti-parasitic treatment: This section is applicable to dogs only, in which case a single option is selected. If the certificate is issued for cats and/or ferrets only, this entire section can be struck out.

This option applies to dogs travelling to Member States other Malta, Finland, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The treatment must be applied by a veterinarian within a period of not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before the time of the scheduled entry into the EU. The drug used must be approved in Canada, must contain the appropriate dose of praziquantel or an equivalent product, which bears a label claim against Echinococcus multilocularis.

This option applies to dogs travelling to Member States other than Malta, Finland, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Completion of the table:

• Transponder or tattoo number of the dog: self-explanatory.
• Name and manufacturer of the product: self-explanatory.
• Date (dd/mm/yyyy) and time of treatment (00:00): as the time requirement is precise (24 to 120 hours), it is imperative to indicate the time. To avoid potential confusion, please use the 24 hour clock.
• Administering veterinarian / Name in capitals, stamp and signature: to be considered valid, the treatment must be administered by a veterinarian or in the presence of the veterinarian. It cannot be prescribed by a veterinarian and administered by the owner at home. A stamp is not required but a clinic stamp can be used if available.
• When entering the treatment in the table referred to under II.4, unused lines should be left blank (and not struck-out) as the certificate can be used for further movement once in the EU, which may require repeat anti-parasitic treatments.

Explanatory notes: there are a significant number of self-explanatory notes detailed in the certificate and they should all be carefully considered.

Signature blocks: the certificate has space for three (3) different signatures:

Official veterinarian/Authorised veterinarian: In Canada, for pets to the EU, a Licensed Veterinarian is considered an Authorised Veterinarian. The signature of the Licensed Veterinarian is essential prior to endorsement by a CFIA Veterinarian. Please note that the certificate is valid for 10 days from the signature of the Licensed Veterinarian. This is reduced to 5 days for dogs entering Finland, Malta, United Kingdom and Ireland.

Competent Authority: this means a Veterinarian employed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It is essential to obtain this signature prior to the movement of the animal(s). Please contact your local District Office in order to schedule an appointment for endorsement. This signature is the very last entry on the certificate before the animal(s) depart from Canada. No modification to the certificate is allowed after CFIA endorsement. Each page of the certificate will also be stamped at the time of endorsement.

Official at the travellers' point of entry: this is for use by the EU authorities only.

Part III – Written Declaration:

Despite the fact that this declaration appears after the signature blocks, it needs to be completed prior to endorsement by the CFIA as the certificate refers to it in article II.1. It needs to be completed by the owner or the natural person who has authorisation in writing from the owner to carry out the non-commercial movement on behalf of the owner. It is however understood that the Animal health certificate number required in the table will only be entered by CFIA at the time of endorsement.