With regard to intra-Union trade, the
conditions for trade are harmonised between the Member States and all live
animals must travel with a health certificate validated by an official
veterinarian specifying that the animals fulfil the basic animal health
requirements as set out in the relevant Council Directives. Further random
checks on the animals may also be carried out at the final destination. In addition to the general health requirements, in the event of a
serious exotic disease outbreak within the Member States, specific requirements
for trade in certain live animals may also be laid down in order to prevent the
spread of the disease.
Harmonised veterinary health
certificates are present for the following species in which, prior to dispatch,
an official veterinarian attests that the animals fulfil all the requirements
for intra-Union trade. This accompanies the animal and the movement must be
recorded in TRACES.
NOTE: Not all species are covered by
a completely harmonised veterinary certificate or movement document. In these
cases Member States' national rules are applied.
- Aquaculture
- Bees
- Bovine
- Equine
- Ovine and Caprine
- Pets & non-commercial movement
- Porcine
- Poultry and Hatching Eggs
In general, the requirements
for intra-community trade are harmonized between the Member
States. To ensure harmonisation is maintained, meat, milk and other products of
animal origin must be produced in an authorised establishment usually under the
supervision of an official veterinarian. Further random checks on the products
may also be carried out at the final destination.
In addition to the general health requirements, specific requirements
for animal products may also be required which take account of such issues as
evolving disease situations in the Member States. In such instances, specific
animal health certificates may be required.
Rules are present also for the movement of consignments of the following
products of animal origin:
- Aquaculture products
- Fresh Meat
- Game Meat
- Meat Products
- Milk and Milk Products
- Poultry meat
- Other products: eggs, honey and royal jelly, snails, frogs' legs, blood
and blood products, bone, animal casing, lard and rendered fat, gelatine.
- Semen, Ova and Embryos
Pre-notification of arrival (L.N. 315
of 2004)
The trader is to notify the Veterinary Services if consignment consists
of animals, feeding stuffs or food of animal origin for human consumption.
The trader is to notify the Public Health Department if the consignment
consists of food of animal origin or any food for human consumption.
The trader is to notify the Plant Health Department if the consignment
consists of plants.
The notifications referred to the above shall be submitted to the
relevant authority 48 hours before the submission of either the import
declaration or the entry into Malta of any consignment of animals, food,
feeding stuffs or plants, as the case may be.