Animal protection / transport and conservation of species

Travelling means stress for the animals. The transport conditions must take in account as much as possible the well-being of the animnals, taking in account all all requirements of the laws on animal protection. Whoever carries international transports of vertebrates by land for commercial purposes  needs an official approval (in Switzerland a license of the cantonal veterinary office), see also presenation right on this page.
The IATA live animal regulations have to be kept on air transports. For wild animals the conditions arising from the laws on conservation of species must also be observed, see (in German)

Exporting pets

The rules to export dogs, cats an ferrets to the EU are quite clear (some Member states require special guarantees regarding rabies antibody testing and treatment against parasites).
For all other "pet animals" or destinations the exporter must inquire the applicable "import conditions" of the competent authority in the country of destination (the "useful addresses for exports" right on this page might help in this context).
For more information see also page:

Exporting animals (other than pets) to the EU

• For horses, domestic cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and "other biungulates" (e.g. new world camelids), for commercial exports of dogs, cats and ferrets,  as well as for rabbits and hares, the conditions an certificates are clearly laid down în the bilateral treaties EU-Switzerland. This is also valid for poultry (haching eggs, chickens and adult fowl, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, quails, pheasants, partridges, ostriches and other ratites (Ratitae) -  as well as for pigeons reared or kept in captivity for the production of meat), live fish, bees and animals kept in "approved bodies" (e.g. some zoos). Please turn to the competent official veterinarian - the cantonal veterinary office can tell you, who he/she is.  
• Circuses an animal shows need a permit from the cantonal veterinary office to travel in the EU.
• For animals of all other species the conditions are governed by the directive 95/65/EEC, which leaves much space for interpretation. The exporter must inquire the applicable "import conditions" of the competent authority in the country of destination (the "usefull addresses for exports" right on this page might help in this context). 
• Get also informed on possible (temporary) animal health restrictions (e.g. regarding bird flu or bluetongue), that could make more difficult or even prohibit the introduction (or re-export) of animals into the intended region of destination.
• Reentry to Switzerland, especially after short stays in the EU: the guarantees required in the standard certificates can often not be signed. In such cases, a special permit of the FVO must be applied for, before leaving Switzerland. The application forms are avilabel at the page Import of live animals from the EU.
• BVD in cattle: the Swiss eradication program starts in 2008. Only take part at "bvd-free" events with cattle. 

Bluetongue: as a consequence of the actual situation live ruminants and camelids must be protected from vectors and tested according to the provisions of Regulation (EC) 1266/2007. this has to be confirmed in the export certificate (see. box "news" right on this page). 

Bovine virus diarrhoe (BVD): animals tested positive for BVD-virus cannot be exported.

Exporting animals (other than pets) to other countries than EU Member States

It is the dury of the exporter to find out the import conditions of the country of destination (the "usefull addresses for exports" right on this page might help to look for the competent authority), and to submit the required certificates to the cantonal veterinary office / the official veterinarian for approval and signing.

 

For further details refer to the German, French or Italian version of this page.