Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

National Assembly for Wales

ANIMAL HEALTH ACT 1981

THE IMPORTATION OF BIRDS, POULTRY AND HATCHING EGGS ORDER 1979

GENERAL LICENCE NO EGG/2176/01/GEN3

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by this licence, issued under Article 4 of the Importation of Birds, Poultry and Hatching Eggs Order 1979, hereby authorises the landing in England/Wales in accordance with the conditions set out below, of: Details of birds: Psittacines other than: pet birds accompanying their owner; birds for zoos, circuses, amusement parks, experimental laboratories and conservation programmes. Originating in: EU Member States and Norway. At: All ports and airports in England and Wales. Conditions 1. Imports of psittacines must comply with the requirements of Council Directive 92/65/EEC. 2. Psittacines must come from a holding or business which has been registered by the competent authority in the Member State of origin under Article 4 of Council Directive 92/65/EEC. 3. Psittacines must be accompanied by a document, signed by an official veterinarian in the Member State of origin, containing at least the following four statements: (a) that the psittacines do not come from a holding, nor have been in contact with animals from a holding, on which psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci) has been diagnosed within the last two months; (b) that the psittacines do not come from a holding on which avian influenza has been diagnosed in the 30 days preceding the dispatch; (c) that the psittacines come from a holding or an area not subject to restrictions under measures to be applied to combat Newcastle disease; (d) that psittacines which have been imported from a third country have completed quarantine in an EU Member State in accordance with Commission Decision 2000/666/EC; or, in the case of psittacines imported from a third country before 1 November 2001, that they have been resident in the Member State of origin for a least 30 days and are free of quarantine restrictions. 4. Psittacines must be individually identified. This should normally be by means of a tamperproof leg ring or microchip bearing a unique serial number. 5. The importer must give at least 24 hours notice in writing to the Divisional Veterinary Manager responsible for the place of destination, of his intention to import the birds, specifying the nature of the consignment, its anticipated date of arrival and the place of destination. Notes 1. In the event of any condition of this licence not being complied with, or in the case of suspicion of disease, a veterinary inspector has powers under the Importation of Birds, Poultry and Hatching Eggs Order 1979 to require the owner or person in charge of the birds to quarantine, re-export or destroy the consignment at the owner’s expense. 2. Imports of birds may require export and import permits under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). CITES permits must be issued in advance and applicants should apply 30 days prior to importation for their permit(s). Those species requiring CITES permits must be moved in compliance with the CITES guidelines for the transport and preparation for shipment of live wild animals or, in the case of air transport, in accordance with the relevant IATA regulations. Failure to observe these regulations may result in the seizure of specimens by HM Customs and Excise. For further details please contact The Wildlife Licensing and Registration Service, Zone 1/17, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6EB, telephone 0117-372 8168, e-mail wildlife.licensing@defra.gsi.gov.uk, web site www.cites.gov.uk. 3. Pet birds are birds which have been owned and cared for by the importer and family in captivity in the country of export for a minimum period of two months. Two pet birds per person up to a maximum of six per family may be imported. Imported pet birds must be accompanied by the owner. Authorised by the Minister Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 1 a Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ. 6 November 2001.