Introduction
This webpage provides instructions for completing all section of the animal health certificate for non-commercial movement of pet dogs, pet cats and pet ferrets to the European Union (EU). This information is intended for individuals bringing their pets to the EU and veterinarians preparing the animals and documentation.
Generalities
- While Northern Ireland has left the European Union (EU), it uses the import requirements of the EU, so all references to the EU should be understood to also include Northern Ireland
- Corrections on the health certificate can't be made with white-out
Where necessary, corrections can be made by crossing out and initialing the change. If at all possible, it is preferable to re-print the document and fill it out correctly. - The document must be printed on letter sized paper (8.5 × 11 in)
- The certificate must be signed in blue ink
- Some sections will require strike-outs (indicated by the reference keep as appropriate) which must be done by making a single straight line (the use of a ruler is highly recommended) through the applicable text
Each strike-out must be initialled by the person who did it. It's important that strike-outs only be made in sections that permit them, otherwise, the certificate may be considered invalid. The strike-out must still allow the underlying text to be read. - The date format indicated in the certificate must be followed
Part I: Details of dispatched consignment
Section I.1 – Consignor: the consignor is the person responsible for the animal(s) in Canada. Enter the name and the coordinates (address and phone number) of this person in Canada.
Section I.2 – Certificate reference number: please leave this section blank as this number is assigned by the CFIA District Office at the time of endorsement.
Section I.3 – Central Competent Authority: as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is the competent authority in all cases, this section has been pre-filled.
Section I.4 – Local Competent Authority: please leave this section blank as it will be filled by the CFIA with District of (district name inserted here).
Section I.5 – Consignee: the consignee is the person responsible for the animal(s) once they've arrived in the European Union. Enter the name and the coordinates of this person in the EU. As the non-commercial movement doesn't allow for transfer of ownership, the name of the consignee should be the same as the name of the consignor. The consignee address is the address in the Member State (country) of first destination. If the animal(s) will be transiting through the EU, this is the person responsible for the animal(s) in the destination country and their coordinates in that country.
Section I.7 – Country of origin: as it is Canada in every case, this section has been pre-filled.
Section I.18 – Description of commodity: in this section, only the species (common names) is entered: dog(s) and/or cat(s) and/or ferret(s). Do not write the name(s) of the animal(s) or any further details.
Section I.19 – Commodity code (HS code): this section is pre-filled with the applicable code. No additional information needs to be entered.
Section I.20 – Quantity: if only 1 species of animal is listed on the certificate, a single number needs to be entered: 1, 2, 3, etcetera. If the certificate is used for pets of various species, please indicate how many of each species: 1 dog, 2 cats.
Section I.25 – Commodities certified for: as there is only 1 option available (pets), check the box that states Pets.
Section I.28 – Identification of the commodities: each animal must be listed individually in this section.
Species: the scientific name must be indicated: Canis lupus familiaris (dog), Felis silvestris catus (cat) or Mustela putorius furo (ferret).
Sex: indicate 1 of the following: M (male), F (female)
Colour: please do not use abbreviations to describe the colour of the animal.
Breed: please do not use abbreviations when indicating the animal's breed.
Identification number: the microchip or the tattoo number (where acceptable) must be written in its entirety.
Identification system and location: indicate whether the animal is identified by a microchip or a tattoo and where it is located.
Date of birth: if the exact date of birth is not known, a complete (dd/mm/yyyy) estimated date of birth is acceptable. The date of birth entered on the export certificate should be the same as the date indicated in supporting documents.
Due to the significant amount of information to write in a relatively small space, it is acceptable to provide all the information requested as a "sentence" divided by forward slash symbols (/). As an example, a dog could be entered as follows:
Canis lupus familiaris/M/red with white markings/Nova Scotia Duck Toller/123456789101112/ Microchip – between shoulders /25/12/2010
Part II: Certification
This section contains all the requirements for the non-commercial movement of pet animal(s) (dogs, cats and ferrets) entering or transiting the EU. Careful attention must be paid to ensure that all requirements are met and appropriately documented on the certificate. The following information is to clarify how to comply with the statements contained in the certificate.
In Canada, for the movement of dogs, cats and ferrets to the EU, a Canadian Licensed Veterinarian is considered an Authorised Veterinarian, as such the Canadian Licensed Veterinarian shall select this option when completing the certificate and strike out the option for completion by an Official Veterinarian.
Article II.1
Footnote (1)either
[II.1. the animals described in Box I.28 are moved in a number of five or less;]
[II.1. the animals described in Box I.28 are moved in a number of more than five, are more than six months old and are going to participate in competitions, exhibitions or sporting events or in training for those events, and the owner or the natural person has provided evidence that the animals are registered
Footnote (1)either
[to attend such event;]
[with an association organising such events;]
Instructions: Only a single statement in article II.1 is selected by striking out the statement that doesn't apply. If the second statement is selected (more than 5 animals), then a second strike-out is required to indicate which type of documentary evidence (receipt of entry into the event, proof of membership) was provided to support this information.
Article II.2
the animals described in Box I.28 show no disease symptoms and are fit for the non-commercial movement on _______________(insert date dd/mm/yyyy);]
Instructions: Insert the date that the travel will take place in the indicated field.
Article II.3
II.3. the animals described in Box I.28 were at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination against rabies and at least 21 days have elapsed since the completion of the primary anti-rabies vaccination carried out in accordance with the validity requirements set out in Part I of Annex VII to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 and any subsequent revaccination was carried out within the period of validity of the preceding vaccination ; and
Footnote (1)either
[II.3.1 the animals described in Box I.28 come from a third country or a territory listed in Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636, either 1) directly, or 2) through a third country or territory listed in that Annex or 3) through a third country or territory other than those listed in that Annex in accordance with Article 17(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, and the details of the relevant anti-rabies vaccination(s) are provided in the table below;]
[II.3.1 the animals described in Box I.28 come from, or are scheduled to transit through, a third country or territory other than those listed in Annex I or Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 and a rabies antibody titration test , carried out on a blood sample taken by the veterinarian authorised by the competent authority, on the date indicated in the table below at least 30 days after the date of the primary vaccination, or within the current vaccination series, and not less than 90 days prior to the date of issue of this animal health certificate, proved an antibody titre equal to or greater than 0,5 IU/ml and any subsequent revaccination was carried out within the period of validity of the preceding vaccination , and the details of the relevant anti-rabies vaccination(s) and the date of sampling for testing the immune response are provided in the table below:
Instructions: In this case a single option must be chosen for II.3.1, depending on the routing chosen to travel to the EU from Canada. Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 lists Canada so it is expected that the first article will apply in most cases as the majority of movements are direct to the EU, without travelling through other countries. It should be noted that the first article also applies when the animal transits via the USA, as the country is also listed in Annex II. If the vaccine is a re-vaccination, the wait period of 21 days is not required, but proof that it is a re-vaccination must be supplied if the animal travels within the first 21 days post-booster. In this case, the details for the previous vaccine must be provided in the addendum supplied at the end of the certificate. An animal must have been continuously vaccinated for rabies since receiving their primary vaccination for the rabies vaccine to be considered valid. If a revaccination is not carried out within the manufacturer's period of validity of the previous vaccination (for example, the rabies vaccination expires at all, even if it is only 1 day), or if the previous vaccine was administered before the animal was identified with a microchip, the revaccination must be considered a primary vaccination.
The second option would apply if the animal was not transported directly to the EU and transited through a country not appearing in Annex II. However, if the transit through a country not appearing in Annex II is limited to very specific circumstances (during such transit the pet animals have no contact with animals of species susceptible to rabies and remain secured within a means of transport or within the perimeter of an international airport), then the first option can apply provided the owner or authorised person provides the required declaration to that effect. The exporter should contact the veterinary authority in the destination country and consult the appropriate regulations for any additional declarations that may be required
Completion of the table:
- Transponder or tattoo alphanumeric code of the animal: self-explanatory
- Date of implantation and/or reading of the transponder or tattoo: this date must predate all other procedures listed in the certificate
In other words, the rabies vaccine(s), titre test (if applicable) and parasite treatment must all be done on or after the transponder application or reading date. The EU does not consider valid any procedure done before the application of a microchip. In cases where the date of application is not known, a reading (before any other procedures) will qualify. - Date of vaccination: self-explanatory
- Name and manufacturer of the vaccine: trade name of product and manufacturer mandatory
- Batch number: self-explanatory
- Validity of vaccination from/to: in case of primary vaccination (very first vaccination in the life of the animal, or first vaccination after the insertion of a microchip), the from date is the establishment of protective immunity (the time needed by the immune system to adequately develop defense against the rabies virus), which cannot be less than 21 days after vaccination
In case of booster vaccination, when performed before the end of validity of the previous vaccination, the from date is usually the date of administration. The to date represents the end of the validity in the animal, based on manufacturer's recommendation. It is not the expiry date of the vial of vaccine. - Date of blood sampling: a date is only entered there if the second option of article II.3.1 was chosen
- unused lines in the rabies vaccination table should be struck out and initialled
Article II.4 –this section is applicable to dogs only, in which case a single option is selected. If the certificate is issued for cats and/or ferrets only, this entire section can be struck out.
Footnote (1)either
[II.4. the dogs described in Box I.28 are destined for a Member State or zone thereof with disease free status from Echinococcus multilocularis and have been treated against Echinococcus multilocularis, and the details of the treatment carried out by the administering veterinarian in accordance with Annex XXI to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 are provided in the table below.]
Instructions: This option applies to dogs travelling to Malta, Finland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The treatment must be applied by a veterinarian within a period of not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before the time of the scheduled entry into the EU. The drug used must be approved in Canada, must contain the appropriate dose of praziquantel or an equivalent product, which bears a label claim against Echinococcus multilocularis.
[II.4. the dogs described in Box I.28 have not been treated against Echinococcus multilocularis.]
Instructions: This option applies to dogs travelling to Member States other than Malta, Finland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Completion of the table:
- Transponder or tattoo number of the dog: self-explanatory
- Name and manufacturer of the product: self-explanatory
- Date (dd/mm/yyyy) and time of treatment (00:00): as the time requirement is precise (24 to 120 hours), it is imperative to indicate the time
To avoid potential confusion, please use the 24 hour clock. - Administering veterinarian/Name in capitals, stamp and signature: to be considered valid, the treatment must be administered by a veterinarian or in the presence of the veterinarian
It cannot be prescribed by a veterinarian and administered by the owner at home. A stamp is not required but a clinic stamp can be used if available. - when entering the treatment in the table referred to under II.4, unused lines should be left blank (and not struck-out) as the certificate can be used for further movement once in the EU, which may require repeat anti-parasitic treatments
Article II.5
Footnote (1)either
[II.5. the owner has declared that the movement of the pet animals is a non-commercial movement.]
[II.5. the owner has authorised the non-commercial movement of the pet animal in a signed declaration and provided evidence of his/her/their movement and the owner/authorised person has declared that the movement of the pet animal is a non-commercial movement.]]
Instructions: One of the two options must be selected.
If the owner will be travelling with their animal(s) then the first option is selected. The owner completes the declaration at the end of the certificate stating that the movement is non-commercial.
If the owner will not be travelling with their animal and they will be authorizing another person to travel with it, then the second option is selected. Both the non-commercial movement declaration and the declaration authorizing another person to travel with the animal are to be completed and included with the certificate. If this option is used, the owner must provide evidence that they are travelling to the EU, for example a boarding pass or flight ticket. This evidence is required to support the claim that the animal is moving within 5 days before or after the owner.
The declaration must indicate who has responsibility over the animal(s) during the non-commercial movement: the owner, a natural person authorised in writing by the owner to carry out the movement on behalf of the owner.
Explanatory notes: there are a significant number of self-explanatory notes detailed in the certificate and they should all be carefully considered.
Signature blocks: the certificate has space for three 3 different signatures:
Official veterinarian/Authorised veterinarian: in Canada, for pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) to the EU, a Canadian Licensed Veterinarian is considered an Authorised Veterinarian. The signature of the Licensed Veterinarian is essential prior to endorsement by a CFIA Veterinarian. Please note that the certificate is valid for 10 days from the signature of the Licensed Veterinarian. This is reduced to 5 days for dogs entering Finland, Malta, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Competent authority: this means a Veterinarian employed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It's essential to get this signature prior to the movement of the animal(s). Please contact your local District Office in order to schedule an appointment for endorsement. This signature is the very last entry on the certificate before the animal(s) depart from Canada. No modification to the certificate is allowed after CFIA endorsement. Each page of the certificate will also be stamped at the time of endorsement.
Official at the travellers' point of entry: this is for use by the EU authorities only.
Declarations
Despite the fact that declarations appear after the signature blocks, the applicable ones need to be completed prior to endorsement by the CFIA as the certificate refers to them in article II.5. It is however understood that the Animal health certificate number required in the table will only be entered by CFIA at the time of endorsement.
The declaration that the movement is non-commercial may be completed either by the owner or the authorized person moving the animal(s).
The declaration authorizing another person to carry out the movement (if applicable), must be completed by the owner.