Animals and goods of animal origin; monitoring of trade

With the creation of the common internal market, the aim has been to achieve the freest possible trade in all areas, and this has also been largely implemented. For trade in animals and goods, this means that in all Member States of the European Union appropriate animal health and food safety regulations must be observed to prevent the spread of animal diseases and to ensure human health, especially when consuming food of animal origin.
In the case of national and intra-Community trade and imports of animals and goods of animal origin from so-called third countries (countries that do not belong to the European Union (EU)), compliance with animal health, animal welfare and food safety regulations is controlled and ensured.

Task and objective is to:

• to prevent the spread and introduction of animal diseases that pose a risk to animals, but also to humans, such as rabies (dogs, cats) or foot-and-mouth disease (cattle). Animal diseases can be transmitted or introduced both by live animals and by animal products and products, such as meat and meat products, hides, feathers, hunting trophies, blood and blood products or feed.
• to ensure the health safety of food. In the EU, uniform working and hygiene regulations apply to businesses that process or handle food. During inspections, for example, in the case of meat and meat products, it is checked whether the goods come from approved establishments in the EU or are imported from a third country that is allowed to deliver to the EU. In this context, checks are also carried out to ensure that the prescribed animal health and hygiene conditions are complied with. Particular attention is paid here to compliance with transport and storage conditions.
• in the case of live animals to check whether the transport takes place under animal welfare conditions and to combat abuses.

When importing live animals and goods of animal origin from third countries, the controls are carried out by veterinarians at so-called border inspection posts. The EU has a network of these border inspection posts at all major land, air and sea entry points into its territory, all of which operate to the same specifications. They are headed by an official veterinarian. Bavaria has a border inspection post at Munich Airport, which is part of the Bavarian Food Safety and Veterinary Control Authority (KBLV).

The regulations for the movement of animals and goods apply in principle not only to commercial imports, but also to private individuals who, for example, dogs, food and other goods of animal origin. This is especially important to note for imports from third countries.

Which regulations must be observed in detail and for which cases exceptions are possible can be obtained from your veterinary office or the Munich Airport border inspection post. Information on this can also be obtained on the Internet from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection, as well as from the customs service centers.

The legal regulations can change at short notice. It is recommended to inform yourself about the legal regulations in due time before a planned import/transfer/travel.

• Veterinary certificates (for live animals)
  to be carried in the context of intra-Community trade and importation
• Health certificates (for foodstuffs)
  to be carried within the framework of the import