Animal health measures applicable during transit from the place of departure in the exporting country to the place of arrival in the importing country

Article 5.5.1.

1. Any country through which the transit of animals is required, and which normally conducts commercial transactions with the exporting country, should not refuse transit, subject to the reservations mentioned below and on condition that advance notice is given of the proposed transit to the Veterinary Authority in charge of border posts.
   
   
   

   This advance notice shall state the species and number of animals, the methods of transport and the border posts of entry and exit in accordance with a previously arranged and authorised itinerary in the transit country.

2. Any country through which transit is to take place may refuse if it considers that certain diseases exist in the exporting country, or in a transit country which precedes it in the itinerary, which are capable of being transmitted to its own animals.
   

3. Any transit country may require the presentation of international veterinary certificates. Such a country may, in addition, cause an examination to be made by an Official Veterinarian of the health status of animals in transit, except in cases where transport in sealed vehicles or containers is a condition of transit.
   

4. Any transit country may refuse passage through its territory of animals presented at one of its border posts if an examination carried out by an Official Veterinarian shows that the animal or consignment of animals in transit is affected by or infected with any of the notifiable epizootic diseases, or if the international veterinary certificate is inaccurate and/or unsigned.
   
   

   In these circumstances, the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country shall be informed immediately, thereby providing an opportunity for checking the findings or correcting the certificate.
   
   

   If the diagnosis of an epizootic disease is confirmed, or if the certificate cannot be corrected, the animal or consignment of animals in transit shall either be returned to the exporting country or be slaughtered or destroyed.

5. This article does not apply to bees that are transported in securely closed vehicles or containers.

Article 5.5.2.

1. Any transit country may require railway wagons and road vehicles used for the transit of animals through its territory to be so constructed as to prevent the escape and dispersion of excrement.
   

2. The unloading of animals in transit shall be permitted in the territory of the transit country only for purposes of watering and feeding or for welfare or other essential reasons. This must be under the effective control of an Official Veterinarian of the transit country, who should ensure that the animals have no contact with any other animals. The importing country shall be informed of any unforeseen unloading in the transit country.

Article 5.5.3.

Any country through which transit is required of the following commodities:

1. semen,

2. oocytes or embryos,

3. hatching eggs,

4. brood-combs of bees,

5. animal products,

and which allows the importation of those products, should not refuse their transit, subject to the following conditions:

1. Advance notice shall be given of the proposed transit to the Veterinary Authority in charge of the control of the border posts.

   This advance notice shall contain information on the identification of the species and the quantity of the products, the method of transport, and the border posts of entry into and exit from the country, in accordance with a previously arranged and authorised itinerary in the transit country.

2. If inspection indicates that the above-mentioned products are capable of being dangerous to the health of persons or animals, the Veterinary Authority of the transit country may order their return to the exporting country.

   If they cannot be returned, the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country shall be informed immediately, thereby providing an opportunity for confirming the findings before destruction of the products.

3. Strict health requirements need not apply to the transit of the products mentioned above when they are transported in sealed vehicles or containers.

Article 5.5.4.

Vessels stopping in a port or passing through a canal or other navigable waterway situated in the territory of a country, on their way to a port situated in the territory of another country, must comply with the conditions required by the Veterinary Authority, especially to prevent the risk of introduction of diseases transmitted by insects.

Article 5.5.5.

1. If, for reasons beyond the control of its captain, a ship or aircraft calls or lands somewhere other than at a port or airport, or at a port or airport other than that at which it should normally call or land, the captain of the ship or aircraft shall immediately notify the nearest Veterinary Authority or other public authority of the new port of call or place of landing.

2. As soon as the Veterinary Authority is notified of the calling or landing place, it shall take appropriate action.

3. Except for the circumstances mentioned in point 5) below, the animals and the attendants on board the ship or aircraft shall not be permitted to leave the vicinity of the docking or landing place. The removal from the vicinity, of any equipment, bedding or feedstuffs accompanying them shall not be permitted.

4. When the measures prescribed by the Veterinary Authority have been carried out, the ship or aircraft shall be permitted, for animal health purposes, to proceed to the port or airport at which it would normally have called or landed. If there are technical reasons why this cannot be done, it may be permitted to proceed to a port or an airport that is more suitable.

5. In an emergency, the captain of the ship or aircraft shall take all necessary measures to maintain the health and safety of the passengers, crew, attendants and animals on board.

nb: first adopted in 1968.