Health certificate for the transport of animals within the European Union or for the export to third countries
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In order to ensure the traceability of the animal, to check the compliance with specific hygiene standards and animal welfare and also to avoid the transmission of diseases or parasites, a health certificate is required for the international transport of animals.
The transport of animals between EU Member States follows a harmonised procedure and has to be declared in the TRACES.NT system.
The export of animals from Luxembourg to a third country must be in accordance with the requirements set by the country of destination.
Applications for health certificates for the transport of animals have to be submitted to the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (Administration luxembourgeoise vétérinaire et alimentaire - ALVA).
Who is concerned?
Each person with a breeding and production animal or a slaughter animal who intends to transport animals through Europe or to export animals to a non-EU country must apply for a health certificate.
This only applies to domestic or pet animals in the case of a commercial movement of animals.
Certain movements of horses between Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands do not require a prior health certificate provided that the horses are returning to their country of origin.
This exception applies to horses which:
- are being ridden or taken, for sporting or recreational purposes;
- are taking part in cultural events;
- are intended solely for pasturing or work for a maximum duration of 90 days;
- are being transported for veterinary reasons.
Nevertheless, equidae have to be correctly identified, have to travel with a valid passport and be transported under conditions which ensure the well-being of the animal.
Prerequisites
Before applying for a health certificate, exporters have to make sure that:
- production animals (bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine animals) to be exported have been correctly identified and properly registered in the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration's (ALVA) SANITEL system;
- domestic animals and horses are identified by an electronic chip and have their own passport during each trip (dogs, cats, horses and ferrets).
Moreover, the driver is required to hold a certificate of professional aptitude for the transport of animals (certificat d'aptitude professionnel pour le transport des animaux). Transporters must hold an authorisation for short routes (type 1) or long routes (type 2). The means of transport also needs to be authorised according to the type of route (long or short).
Preliminary steps
Before applying for a health certificate regarding the export or transport to another EU Member State, economic operators (the exporter or the transporter) have to create an account in the TRACES.NT system, which will be validated by the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) and allows them to register their applications.
The European Commission has published a guide called TRACES Toolkit, which contains the user manuals for the TRACES.NT system, videos and templates.
The professional who does not intend to request health certificates on a regular basis is not required to create an account in the TRACES.NT system but they can directly address their request to the ALVA.
With regard to the transport of horses, applicants must receive a pré-certificat sanitaire (health pre-certificate) from their veterinarian. This certificate is valid for 10 days only and the movement of the animal can only take place during the validity period of the certificate.
Deadlines
The inspections and the issue of certificates take place during working days, during the opening hours of the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA).
Health certificates can be obtained by submitting the application to the veterinary inspector at least 24 hours prior to the day and time where the animals to be inspected are presented at the place of loading or at the collection point. The veterinary inspector will set an appointment for the health inspection.
For transports whose duration exceed 8 hours, applicants must submit their application for the health certificate at least 48 hours prior to the beginning of the transport.
The certificate must be issued within 24 hours before the departure of the animals and it remains valid for 10 days only.
How to proceed
Filing an application
Economic operators must submit the application for the health certificate for the transport of animals to another EU Member State via the TRACES.NT system.
They must use the code and name for the animal as set out in the customs nomenclature to complete the application.
Applicants who do not have access to or do not have an account in the TRACES.NT system are required to complete an export form, which will vary depending on the type of animal and the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) will ensure the application is properly submitted.
In order to ensure this, applicants must, depending on the type of animal, send the following to info@alva.etat.lu:
- an application for an export certificate or a certificate for the intra-Community movement of bovine animals (French, Pdf, 395 Kb);
- an application for an export certificate or a certificate for the intra-Community movement of a horse (French, Pdf, 398 Kb);
- an application for an export certificate or a certificate for the intra-Community movement of porcine animals (French, Pdf, 395 Kb);
- an application for an export certificate or a certificate for the intra-Community movement of poultry (French, Pdf, 395 Kb); or
- an application for an export certificate or a certificate for the intra-Community movement of ovine/caprine animals (French, Pdf, 391 Kb);
Each transport of animals is subject to an application.
If an application is submitted for an animal belonging to a protected species under the CITES convention, then a CITES permit must be applied for in addition to the health certificate.
Conditions for granting
The Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) will assess the application by taking into account the health requirements set by the country of destination.
The health inspection includes:
- verifying the identification and type of animals;
- examining the animals with a view to their fitness for transport;
- the collection of information on the holding of origin, the health status of the animals and if it originates from a region free of infectious animal diseases;
- inspection of the means of transport and their disinfection.
Foreign authorities may sometimes require additional inspections.
If the inspection is conclusive, the ALVA will issue the health certificate. The veterinarian will register the certificate and the transport conditions in the TRACES.NT system in order to share the information with the authorities at the place of destination.
The health certificate in paper format must accompany the live animals during each transport.
Conditions for denial
The Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) will deny the issue of a certificate if the animal is unfit for transport, if it presents signs of clinical infections or diseases or if the documents concerning the animal are not compliant (identification of the animal, transport documents, etc.). In this case, the animal cannot be taken out of the country.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA)
-
Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA)
- Address:
- 7, rue Thomas Edison L-1445 Strassen Luxembourg
- Email address:
- info@alva.etat.lu
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
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Animaux vivants
sur le portail Single Window for Logistics
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Contrôles vétérinaires à l'import/export
sur le portail Single Window for Logistics
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Poste d'Inspection Frontalier (PIF)
sur le portail Single Window for Logistics
Legal references
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Règlement (CE) nº 820/97 du Conseil du 21 avril 1997
établissant un système d'identification et d'enregistrement des bovins et relatif à l'étiquetage de la viande bovine et des produits à base de viande bovine
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Règlement grand-ducal du 6 mai 2004
concernant l'identification et l'enregistrement des ovins et des caprins
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Règlement grand-ducal du 30 avril 2004
concernant l'identification et l'enregistrement des porcelets et des porcs
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Règlement grand-ducal du 22 avril 1999
portant mesures d'application du règlement (CE) n° 820/97 du Conseil du 21 avril 1997 en ce qui concerne l'identification et l'enregistrement des bovins
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Règlement grand-ducal du 15 mars 1983
ayant pour objet d'assurer la protection de la vie et le bien-être des animaux
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Directive 90/425/CEE du Conseil du 26 juin 1990
relative aux contrôles vétérinaires et zootechniques applicables dans les échanges intracommunautaires de certains animaux vivants et produits dans la perspective de la réalisation du marché intérieur
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Règlement (CE) nº 1/2005 du Conseil du 22 décembre 2004
relatif à la protection des animaux pendant le transport et les opérations annexes et modifiant les directives 64/432/CEE et 93/119/CE et le règlement (CE) n° 1255/97
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Règlement (CE) nº 599/2004 de la Commission du 30 mars 2004
relatif à l'adoption d'un modèle harmonisé de certificat et de compte rendu d'inspection liés aux échanges intracommunautaires d'animaux et de produits d'origine animale (Texte présentant de l'intérêt pour l'EEE)
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Règlement grand-ducal du 18 juin 1981
fixant les conditions générales d'importation, de transit et d'exportation des animaux domestiques d'élevage, de rente et de boucherie ainsi que de leurs produits
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Règlement grand-ducal du 30 juillet 2007
fixant certaines modalités d'application du règlement (CE) n° 1/2005 du Conseil du 22 décembre 2004 relatif à la protection des animaux pendant le transport
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