TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS IN EUROPE
COMPILED BY ©FECAVA

THE FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN COMPANION ANIMAL VETERINARY ASSOCIATIONS


INFORMATION ON REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS
TO EUROPEAN COUNTRYS
NORWAY


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Category 4:
Importation from rabies infected EU/EFTA-countries and the Norwegian territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

Category 4 applies to dogs and cats being imported from the following countries/regions in EU/EFTA: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and Austria and also the Norwegian territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

The following import conditions apply to animals in category 4:

1. VETERINARY CERTIFICATE The animal must be accompanied by a Veterinary Certificate approved by the Norwegian Animal Health Authority - Central Unit. The Veterinary Certificate is twofold and consists of part I, the Health Certificate, and part II, the Vaccination Certificate. Both parts must be signed by an authorised veterinarian. The certificate shall confirm that the import requirements are fulfilled.

The Health Certificate must be signed by an authorised veterinarian within 10 days prior to importation to Norway. The Health Certificate is a certification that the animal does not show clinical signs of any contagious or infectious disease and that treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis (tapeworm) has been completed. During the first 7 days after arrival in Norway the animal must be retreated by an authorised veterinarian.

Exception 1: Animals arriving from the Norwegian territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen and Norwegian service dogs returning from active duty outside Norway are not required to be accompanied by a Health Certificate signed by an authorised veterinarian. These animals must, alternatively, be accompanied by a declaration signed by the owner confirming that the animal is well and that it has not shown signs of contagious or infectious disease during 30 days prior to importation. The declaration must further confirm that the animal has not had contact with other animals that may be under suspicion of a contagious or infectious disease.

Exception 2:The treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis is not required if the animal has exclusively resided in Finland (besides Norway and Sweden) during 12 months prior to importation.

The Vaccination Certificate must be filled in and signed by an authorised veterinarian based upon information given in original vaccination and laboratory certificates. The Vaccination Certificate is valid as long as the vaccination status of the animal or the blood test is valid.

The following vaccines and/or blood tests must be documented on the Vaccination Certificate:

A. Rabies
The animal must be vaccinated with an approved, inactivated vaccine within 365 days prior to importation to Norway. Dogs must have been a minimum of 3 months old at the time of the first vaccination. Cats must have been a minimum of 12 months old at the time of the first vaccination. The animal must not have been vaccinated with a live vaccine during 24 months prior to importation.

A blood sample for confirmation of antibody titre must have been taken not earlier than 120 days (and not later than 365 days) after the last rabies vaccination. The blood sample must be taken by an authorised veterinarian, be analysed at an approved laboratory (see list) and show a minimum antibody titre of 0,5 IE/ml.

Exception: Animals that have shown a satisfactory antibody titre once, are not required to repeat the test if the animal has continuously been re-vaccinated against rabies with intervals of not more than 365 days.

B. Leptospirosis (applies only to dogs)
The dog must be vaccinated with an approved vaccine within 365 days prior to importation to Norway.
Alternatively, the dog may be tested serologically with a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for leptospirosis. The blood sample must be drawn within 21 days prior to importation. The result of the test must show less than 50% agglutination at a dilution of 1:30 for an unvaccinated dog, or less than 50% agglutination at a dilution of 1:300 for a previously vaccinated dog.

C. Canine Distemper (applies only to dogs)
The dog must be vaccinated with an approved vaccine within 730 days prior to importation to Norway and must be at least 8 weeks old at the time of vaccination.

Note for points 1B and 1: After basic immunisation or after exceeded re-vaccination interval the dog must wait 30 days before importation to Norway. If the dog receives two or more vaccine shots upon basic immunisation, the 30 day limit applies to the first vaccination date. The 30 day limit does not apply to dogs that have been re-vaccinated against leptospirosis within 365 days and against canine distemper within 730 days after the last vaccination.

2. IDENTIFICATION
The animal must be identified with a readable tattoo or microchip implant. The identification number must be referred to on all vaccination certificates or vaccination book and on laboratory certificates. The identification number must also be referred to on the approved Veterinary Certificate. If the microchip is not of FECAVA or ISO standard, the animal owner must provide a compatible reader.

3. BORDER CONTROL
Importation must take place at a manned border control post. Upon arrival the animal and original Veterinary Certificate must be presented to the Customs Authorities. If there are irregularities the Customs Authorities will refuse entry.

4. ORIGIN
Animals being imported from rabies infected EU/EFTA countries must have resided exclusively in EU/EFTA countries during 6 months prior to importation to Norway.