INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF LIVESTOCK

Packing and Exporting

Living animals must have priority over all other freight and should be transported by the most expeditious means.

Importers (i.e. consolidators, wholesalers and retailers importing direct from an exporter) should be able to demonstrate that they have taken positive steps to ensure that packers and exporters follow the guidelines given below:

1. Livestock should be packed in a manner which complies with the current IATA Live Animal Regulations. The Regulations for 1992 require that fish are packed so that they will survive 48 hours from the time of their acceptance by an airline. Due regard should be given to' behavioural characteristics of the species concerned.

2. Chemicals

   The use of chemicals of the following classes:

   1. Buffers
   2. Ion exchange materials
   3. Vital dyes
   4. Vaccines
   5. Sedatives
   6. Antibiotics should only be used when necessary and then only in accordance with good husbandry, bearing in mind the provisions of the Medicines Act 1968 and veterinary practice in the UK.

3. Labelling

   The contents of each box in a shipment should display an external label giving the following information:

   1. Consignor - name and address
   2. Consignee - name, address and out-of-hours contact telephone number
   3. Date and time of packing and of dispatch
   4. Airport or port of destination and route
   5. Accepted scientific names and local common names of species enclosed or be accompanied by a document containing this information vii. Required temperature range
   6. Any medication or chemicals used
   7. A note of any organism hazardous to humans

4. No livestock should be despatched unless in direct response to an order that has been received. No 'makeweights' are acceptable if covered by any UK import restrictions. Substitutions must be notified at least 24 hours in advance of arrival. This will enable importers to meet the requirements the Veterinary Checks Directives 91/425 and 91/496.

5. 48 hours notice should be given by the consignor to the consignee of the estimated time of arrival of shipment.

6. Animals from the wild should have been collected using legal, ethical techniques which do not damage the ecosystem.

7. No fish showing overt signs of clinical disease should be dispatched.

Carrying

8. No carrier or agent, in the country of origin, should accept a consignment of livestock for which no documentary evidence of an order is available, whether that consignment is prepaid or charged collect.

9. IATA Live Animal Regulations must be followed especially with regard to the rapid discharge of the cargo.

10. If for any reason the fish have to be unpacked before their final destination then the following conditions must be observed:
    1. the operation must take place in a room where the ambient temperature is within the range stated on the label.
    2. the operation should be conducted in dimmed or red light. It should not occur in bright sun or artificial light.
    3. any water that is used for topping up or replacement must be to a very similar chemical and physical nature to the packing water at the time of unpacking.
    4. expert ichthyological advice should be sought.

11. Unpacking during the journey should be avoided if reasonably practicable and should only be undertaken to benefit the welfare of the livestock or for statutory purposes.

General Responsibilities

The importer (or agent) should also assume the following responsibilities.

12. The IMPORTER i.e. the person or business upon whose licence the import is made, must accept primary responsibility for any consignment ordered, after it has been despatched in good faith and left the country of origin, under all circumstances. Late arrival of shipments for any reason does not absolve an importer from this responsibility.

13. The importer or his her representative should make all reasonable efforts to expedite the clearance of the consignment and transport to its destination.

14. This journey should be completed by a means and in circumstances that do not prejudice the well-being of the animals.

15. Shipments that have been abandoned should only be 'rescued' when appropriate tanking facilities are available as soon as is reasonably practicable. Fish should not be `rescued' and stored in their transit boxes until sold. Only in exceptional circumstances e.g. flights bound for the continent that become fog bound in the UK, should livestock be unpacked, water changed and repacked before their final destination is reached.

    Should a shipment be abandoned then the importer's Freight Agent should make him or herself responsible for alerting OATA Ltd by telephone or fax of this eventuality. Failing that contact should be made with another recognised OATA Ltd importer.

16. A record of all fish imported and sold, (except retail sales) to include source and destination, should be maintained. This may be achieved by retention of orders and invoices.

17. Transport packages should not be opened until they have arrived at their destination. An exception may be made when the survival of the livestock is threatened. In these circumstances the conditions relating to livestock outlined in `CARRYING - INTERNATIONALLY' should as far as reasonably practicable be applied.

18. CITES

    When importing CITES listed species the appropriate import and export permits should be obtained. Details of the import permit ie permit number or photocopy of the original should be provided for the purchaser.

19. EC Wildlife Trade Regulations

    The necessary import permit (Annex B species) or import declaration (Annex D species) should be available as appropriate to both authorities and customers. The supplier of Annex B species should take positive steps to satisfy themselves that their intended customers are able to care for the specimens properly.

20. Plant Health Requirements

    Where necessary Phytosanitary Certificates or Plant Health Passports should be obtained.