INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPORT AND EXPORT OF DOGS AND CATS Dr Daniel K. Karugu Import/Export Risk Analysis Department of Veterinary Services KABETE Paper presented in KVA Nairobi Branch Scientific Meeting Nairobi 12/3/2010

BACKGROUND (1) International movement of animals is a potential avenue for spread of hazards; Risks are minimized through regulations and standards i.e. WTO SPS Agreement OIE standards, guidelines and recommendations, called “OIE standards” WHO provisions

BACKGROUND (2 ) Participation in international movement is on the premise that: The exporting country is free of the disease(s) of concern to the importing country or has an official control programme; The country has a competent veterinary services;

OVERVIEW (1) Import and export sanitary control is the prerogative of the official veterinarian a veterinarian authorised by the Veterinary Authority of the country to perform certain designated official tasks associated with animal health and/or public health and inspections of commodities and, when appropriate, to certify in conformity with the provisions of the OIE Terrestrial CodeveterinarianVeterinary Authority commodities Terrestrial Code

OVERVIEW (2) Veterinary Authority means the Governmental Authority of an OIE Member having the responsibility and competence for ensuring or supervising the implementation of animal health and welfare measures, international veterinary certification and other standards and recommendations in the Terrestrial Code in the whole territorywelfare Terrestrial Code

OVERVIEW (3) Veterinary Services means the governmental and non-governmental organisations that implement animal health and welfare measures and other standards and recommendations in the Terrestrial Code in the territory.welfareTerrestrial Code The Veterinary Services are under the overall control and direction of the Veterinary Authority.Veterinary Authority Private sector organisations, veterinarians or veterinary paraprofessionals are normally accredited or approved to deliver functions by the Veterinary Authority.veterinarians veterinary paraprofessionalsVeterinary Authority

OVERVIEW (4) In the Kenyan context: Official veterinarian is the Director of Veterinary Services or his authorizee; Veterinary Authority is Department of Veterinary Services; Veterinary Services is the private and public sector veterinary services under the control and direction of Department of Veterinary Services

KENYAN NORMS (1) The official veterinarian allowed [“accredited”?] private vets to examine, vaccinate, treat and provide health reports on pet animals destined for export; Director authenticates reports from private vets Director issues assurances based on reports from private vets.

KENYAN NORMS (2) Import/export system is largely operational; Several weakness noted which put into question: Authenticity of health report; Competence of examining, reporting vets; Accuracy of health assurance given by the vet and conversely by the official veterinarian to the destination country. THIS PAPER WILL ADDRESS THE WEAKNESSES

SANITARY DOCUMENTS Internationally moving pets and other animals require that they be accompanied by: An import permit issued by the Veterinary Authority of the country of destination. An international veterinary certificate issued by the Veterinary Authority of the country of origin; A transit permit for any country the animal would transit through.

IMPORT PERMIT=IMPORT LICENSE= IMPORT CONDITIONS a list of health conditions which the country of origin should meet and assure the country of destination. the conditions are negotiated and agreed between the Veterinary Authorities of the two countries and based on OIE standards. many countries post their import conditions on their official websites.

IMPORT PERMIT (2) In Kenya, the Department of Veterinary Services provides the import permits for all animals and animal products. The import permit is a legal document as provided by Animal Diseases Act, Cap 364, Animal Diseases Rule 3 (1)

INTERNATIONAL VETERINARY CERTIFICATE (1) Formerly called international health certificate; issued by the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country after having satisfied the import conditions of the country of destination. OIE has provided Model International Veterinary Certificates.

INTERNATIONAL VETERINARY CERTIFICATE (2) In Kenya; Director relies on the private veterinarian consulted by the exporter. The Director authenticates the documents from private vet & issues international vet certificate; A relation of immense trust Many Veterinary Authorities directly examine, treat and test animals for the purpose of export certification.

INTERNATIONAL VETERINARY CERTIFICATE (3) The private veterinarian should: peruse import (and any transit) conditions and address them while examining, treating and processing animals; properly identify the animal; actually clinically examine animal and provide a health report based on personal knowledge.

INTERNATIONAL VETERINARY CERTIFICATE (4) The private vet should…(contd) be registered by the Kenya Veterinary Board and retained in the roll for the current period. affix full name, signature & KVB Reg No to both the health report as well as the vaccination certificates;

THE TRANSIT PERMIT Issued by Vet Authority of transit country; Provides conditions for assuring the country though which the animal will transit that its animal health status will not be compromised by the animal. As many transit permits as there are transiting countries are required.

WEAKENESSES IN KENYAN PET IMPORT/EXPORT ARRANGEMENTS Incorrect brief to exporters by private vets: On importance of import conditions of destination countries On validity period for health reports; Pre-printed or template health reports which do not address the concerns of the destination country.

WEAKENESSES (2) Missing names of the veterinarian in health report; Improperly identified animals; Use of photocopies; Missing important details in vaccination certificates names of veterinarian; vaccination dates validity period of vaccine used

EXAMPLE (1): MISSED CERTIFICATE Assurance requiredAssurance given

EXAMPLE (2): MISSED CERTIFICATE Assurance requiredAssurance given

EXAMPLE (3): MISSED CERTIFICATE.. Assurance requiredAssurance given

EXAMPLE (4): VACCINATOR’S NAME MISSING (1).

EXAMPLE (5): VACCINATOR’S NAME MISSING.

EXAMPLE (6): DOG NOT COMPLETELY DESCRIBED, VACCINATOR’S NAME MISSING, ALTERATIONS NOT X-SIGNED.

EXAMPLE (7): ILLEGIBLE IDENTIFICATION OF CERTIFYING VET.

EXAMPLE (8): NAME STAMP?, ILLEGIBLE.

EXAMPLE (9): ALTERATIONS NOT AUTHENTICATED.

EXAMPLE (10): INCORRECT CERTIFICATE.

EXAMPLE (11): INCORRECT CERTIFICATE.

EXAMPLE (12): INCORRECT Rx?, DETAILS BEYOND SCOPE OF CERTIFYING VET.

EXAMPLE (12): INCORRECT DATE; VACCINATOR’S NAME ALSO MISSING.

EXAMPLE (13): NAME OF CERTIFYING VET MISSING.

EXAMPLE (14): MISSING DETAILS.

EXAMPLE (15): MISSING DETAILS.

CONSEQUENCIES Animal improperly certified may be placed in quarantine, rejected/reshipped or destroyed, and the cost to the owner. For introducing a disease into another country through incorrect certification, the exporting country could be charged in the WTO tribunal compensate the aggrieved country for the cost of eliminating the disease and reverting to the previous status.

CORRECTIVE MEASURES (1) Sharing information on sanitary measures; Private veterinarians to acquaint themselves with OIE standards published annually on via health standards via terrestrial animal to terrestrial code on line

CORRECTIVE MEASURES (2) OIE advisory; Certification should be based on the highest possible ethical standards; Certification of freedom from diseases based on purely clinical freedom and herd history is of limited value.diseasesherd This is also true of diseases for which there is no specific diagnostic test, or the value of the test as a diagnostic aid is limited.diseases

CORRECTIVE MEASURES (3) OIE advisory… The veterinarian should have no conflict of interest in the commercial aspects of the animals being certified and should be independent from the commercial parties. animals Health reports should be written in terms that are as simple, unambiguous and easy to understand as possible, without losing their legal meaning.

CORRECTIVE MEASURES (4) OIE advisory… The text of health reports should not be amended except by deletions which must be signed and stamped by the certifying veterinarian. Only original certificates and health reports are acceptable.

CORRECTIVE MEASURES (5) Private veterinarians processing pet-animals for export could adopt suggested harmonized format of: health reporting rabies vaccination certificates aligned with provisions of OIE

CORRECTIVE MEASURES (6) The health report shall: Address the import conditions and adopt the wording of the import permit, e.g. Condition: “The dog should be free of clinical signs of any communicable or infectious disease” Certificate: “I, ….., declare that I have examined on the date indicated below the animal described herein and have found it to be free of clinical signs of any communicable or infectious disease”; Properly identify the animal, owner and bear the name, signature, address and KVB Reg No of the examining vet.

ANIMAL & OWNER IDENTIFICATION Name of animal……………………………………………… Date of birth…………………….………..Male Female Colour…………………………….Breed…………… Identification Number (tattoo or other permanent identification)……………………….. For microchips the type is…………………..and the name of the manufacturer is …………..(insert microchip sticker in the space below) Coat type and marking/Distinguishing marks:………… Name of owner……………….ID/Passport Number…… Physical address…………………………………………… Mailing address………………………………………………. Telephone number…………………. ………………….. STICK MICROCHIP CERTIFICATE STICKER HERE

PRIMARY VACCINATION RECORD Name of vaccine Name of Manuf Batch No Expiry Date Name of Vacc. vet KVB reg. No SignDate of vacc Vacc valid up to

THE END References: Terrestrial Animal Health Code of OIE, 2009 Edition Animal Diseases Act, Cap 364 of Laws of Kenya, Revised 1989 Department of Veterinary Services records-various THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION