Animal Importation and Quarantine Regulations

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*Editor’s note: This Arrangement of Regulations contains links to the body of the Regulations (Control + click)

Regulations to make provision for the importation of animals, animal products, biological products and the exportation of animals and animal products, the performance of quarantine of such animals, biological products and animal products, and for connected purposes.

"abattoir" means premises approved by the veterinary authority of the exporting country and conforming with international norms;

"agriculture merchant" is a person engaged in full time business in Vanuatu as an agricultural merchant and approved by the Minister for the purposes of these Regulations;

"AI Centre" means a facility for the production of semen approved by the veterinary authority of the exporting country and used exclusively for donor animals;

"collection unit" means a facility for the collection of embryos or ova approved by the veterinary authority of the exporting country and used exclusively for donor animals;

"fish" means any aquatic animal, whether piscine or not, and includes any mollusc, crustacean, coral, sponge, holothurian (bêche-de-mer), and reptile and their young and eggs and includes coconut crabs;

"free zone" means a clearly defined territory or part of such territory within a country in which no case of a specified disease has been reported during the period defined for such disease, and within which and at the borders of which official veterinary control is effectively applied for animals and animal products, and their transportation;

"hormone growth promoters" means any substance which has an oestrogenic, androgenic or gestagenic action;

"hormonal substance" means any substance within either of the following categories –

"infected zone" means a clearly defined territory or part of such territory within a country in which a specified disease has been reported during the period defined for such disease, and within which and at the borders of which official veterinary control is effectively applied for animals and animal products, and their transportation;

"international health certificate" means a certificate issued by an official veterinarian of the exporting country, certifying that animals are in good health and the wholesomeness of animal products, and giving particulars where applicable of the measures taken to prevent the spread of disease;

"official veterinary" means a qualified veterinarian employed in the civil service or a specially appointed veterinarian, appointed or authorized by the veterinary authority of the exporting country;

"part of the territory of a country" means a geographical or administrative entity possessing an authorized administrative veterinary organization capable of taking and controlling the appropriate measures;

"pharmacist" is a qualified pharmacist engaged in full time business in Vanuatu as pharmacist under a license granted under the Control of Pharmacists Act [Cap. 23];

"veterinarian" is a qualified veterinarian resident in Vanuatu and approved by the Minister for the purposes of these regulations;

"veterinary assistant" is a person employed in the service of the Government as an assistant to a veterinary officer, acting under the supervision and direction of a veterinary officer and approved by the Minister for the purpose of these regulations;

"veterinary officer" means a qualified veterinarian resident in Vanuatu and employed in the service of the Government.

(2) For the purposes of these regulations, any approval granted by the Minister under subregulation (1) shall be in writing and shall be published in the Gazette.

2. General exemptions to the requirement for all imports to have an import permit
(1) The following items shall be exempted from the provisions of section 2(1) of the Act:

(a) fully manufactured foods (excluding foods that contain bovine products), hermetically sealed and not requiring refrigeration for permanent storage, but excluding foods preserved only by drying;

(c) fully tanned or processed leather, feather, fleece and hair goods except used saddlery, harnesses and other equipment, used with or been in contact with animals or animal products;

(f) items the subject of a provisional import permit issued in accordance with regulation 19.

(2) The exception in paragraph (e) of subregulation (1) does not apply to live fish, if any, taken by an authorized officer under section 22(2) of the Fisheries Act [Cap. 158]^[1].

3. Performance of quarantine
(1) Animals, animal products, biological products and related articles ordered into quarantine shall be under the control of a veterinary officer who shall have absolute authority in relation to the performance of quarantine.

(2) The principal veterinary officer may appoint a quarantine officer as officer in charge of any quarantine area, quarantine station or quarantine zone for the purposes of these regulations.

(3) The principal veterinary officer may order that any animal showing any sign of disease whilst subject to quarantine control is destroyed or subject to any diagnostic or investigatory test or procedure subject to the provisions of regulation 8.

4. Fees
(1) The principal veterinary officer shall charge the importer or his agent, on behalf of the Government, the full costs of quarantine inspections, treatments and detentions, and of all permits and documents issued in respect of any importation.

(2) The importer or his agent shall, within 30 days, pay the appropriate fee as set out in Schedule 1.

(3) Fees shall take account of all time and materials used and likely to be used in the course of administering any importation made under the Act.

5. Examination of exports
(1) A veterinary officer may, if he thinks it expedient or necessary, inspect or cause to be inspected any animal, animal product, biological product or related article prior to the exportation of such animal, animal product, biological product or related article.

(2) A veterinary officer may withhold or detain any animal, animal product, biological product or related article being exported until such a time when he is satisfied that such animal, animal product, biological product or related article meets with the terms and conditions of the importing country and are of sufficient quality and wholesomeness.

6. Entry and exit to quarantine area, etc.
(1) No person shall enter a quarantine area, quarantine station or quarantine zone without the permission of the quarantine officer in charge of such quarantine area, quarantine station or quarantine zone.

(2) Any person damaging, interfering with or in any way reducing the effectiveness of any measures taken to secure a quarantine area, quarantine station or quarantine zone, or of any animal, animal product, biological product or related article in the quarantine area, quarantine station or quarantine zone, shall be guilty of an offence against these regulations.

(3) A quarantine officer may lock, seal or otherwise prevent the entry and exit to any quarantine area, quarantine station or quarantine zone, regardless of the ownership of such quarantine area, quarantine station or quarantine zone.

7. Removal from quarantine
No animals or goods may be removed from any quarantine area, quarantine station or quarantine zone without the written permission of the veterinary officer or the quarantine officer in charge of that quarantine area, quarantine station or quarantine zone in the form set out in Schedule 4.

8. Sampling, testing, etc.
A veterinary officer may take any sample, make any test, fumigate, disinfect, or in any way treat any animal, plant or goods subject to quarantine and any vessel carrying the same at any time that such animal, plant or goods are subject to quarantine control, or may order that such action is taken, and shall notify the owner or agent of such action in the form set out in Schedule 5.

9. Master of vessel to distribute declaration forms
It shall be the responsibility of the master of every vessel arriving in Vanuatu to distribute to all persons on board disembarking, which phrase excludes persons in transit, in Vanuatu the “passenger declaration form” set out in Schedule 6 hereto prior to arrival.

10. Language of import documents and descriptions of contents
(1) All documents and certificates accompanying imports made under the Act shall be presented in either the English or French language.

(2) No items may be imported into Vanuatu unless evidence of origin and contents is presented in either the English or French language.

11. Multiple importation permits
(1) The principal veterinary officer may, on application made to him in any of the appropriate forms set out in Schedule 2, grant or authorize the granting of provisional import permits valid for single or multiple importations of a specified commodity where it is in his opinion expedient so to do:

Provided that at all times such permits do not result in an increased quarantine risk.

(2) Any provisional import permit granted under subregulation (1) may be cancelled at any time without notice, whether or not the importer has a pre-existing contractual obligation to import or not.

12. Official stamp
(1) The Minister shall approve a stamp or stamps to be used in conjunction with the signature of an authorized officer to authenticate documents issued under the Act or any regulations made under it.

(2) No person shall use such stamps for purposes other than that referred to in subregulation (1).

PART 3 – TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN RESPECT 0F SALE, STORAGE, ADMINISTRATION AND DISPOSAL 0F BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS AND THE PERSONS ENTITLED TO POSSESS AND USE SUCH PRODUCTS

13. Requirement for approval
(1) Unless otherwise exempted from this regulation, no biological product may be sold, stored, administered or otherwise disposed of in Vanuatu that is not approved under these regulations and set out in Schedule 7.

(2) For biological products considered to be veterinary drugs, approval shall include the provision of information on their characteristics as follows –

(b) name, type and permanent address or registered office of the company or holder of the marketing license;

(e) pharmacological properties and, insofar as this information is useful for therapeutic purposes, pharmacokinetic particulars;

(h) acceptable residue level for each edible product or tissue. Determination based on the evaluation of these residues taking into consideration all the available pharmacological and toxicological information;

(i) withdrawal periods (if applicable). Determination through pharmacokinetic studies carried out with the veterinary drugs tested in normal conditions;

(j) residue monitoring methods. Description of appropriate analytical methods likely to be used in the monitoring programme for residues in food of animal origin;

(k) description of tests used to determine the environmental impacts (literature, investigations, practical experience).

(3) For biological products not considered to be veterinary drugs, approval shall include the provision of such information as may be reasonably required by the principal veterinary officer.

14. Approval and categorization of biological products
Where the principal veterinary officer is satisfied that sufficient information has been submitted he may approve the biological product for its sale, storage, administration and disposal in Vanuatu and shall categorize the biological product according to one of the following categories:

Category V2 Biological products available to the public only from pharmacists, veterinarians, veterinary assistants and agricultural merchants, and subject to the conditions laid down for the sale, storage, administration and disposal of biological products in Category V2;

Category V3 Biological products available to the public only on supply or prescription from a veterinarian and subject to the conditions laid down for the sale, storage, administration and disposal of biological products in Category V3;

Category V4 Biological products available to the public only on the specific written authority of the principal veterinary officer and subject to the terms and conditions made in granting such authority;

Category V5 Biological products of which the import, sale, storage, administration and disposal is prohibited

15. Biological Products Committee
The principal veterinary officer may appoint a Biological Products Committee of suitably qualified persons, of which he shall be the chairman, for the purposes of approving and categorizing biological products under these regulations.

16. Conditions relating to the sale, storage, administration or disposal of biological products
(1) No person shall import, sell, store, administer or dispose of any biological product contrary to the conditions laid down under the provisions of this regulation for that biological product or to those relating generally to biological products in the relevant Category.

(2) (a) Category V2 biological products may be imported or supplied to the public only by a pharmacist, veterinarian, veterinary assistant or agricultural merchant.

(b) A pharmacist or agricultural merchant supplying Category V2 biological products shall maintain a register of such products acquired, sold and disposed of recording the quantity, source and the person to whom sold or otherwise made over to.

(d) Any person selling category V2 biological product shall make available the register at any reasonable time when requested so to do by a veterinary officer.

(3) (a) Category V3 biological products may be imported only by a pharmacist, veterinarian, or agricultural merchant and supplied to the public only by, or on the prescription of, a veterinarian or a veterinary assistant.

(b) A veterinarian or veterinary assistant may only supply or prescribe Category V3 products for animals under his care or charge.

(c) A veterinary assistant may administer, supply, prescribe or otherwise dispose of Category V3 products only on behalf of and on the instructions of a veterinarian and provided that all such other conditions relating to such products are observed.

(d) Agricultural merchants and pharmacists supplying Category V3 biological products shall make available the register at any reasonable time when requested so to do by a veterinary officer.

17. Additional conditions relating specifically to hormonal substances and growth promoters
(1) Subject to subregulation (2), no person shall administer, or knowingly cause or permit to be administered, to any cattle, pig, sheep, goat, horse or poultry, by any means whatsoever any hormone growth promoters.

(2) The prohibition in subregulation (1) shall not apply to the administration –

(i) for therapeutic treatment in the form of an injection of oestradiol-17-B, progesterone or testosterone or those derivatives of these substances which readily yield the parent compound on hydrolysis after absorption at the site of application; or

(ii) for the termination of unwanted gestation or the improvement of fertility; or

(b) by, or under the direct responsibility of, a veterinarian for the synchronization of oestrus or the preparation of donors or recipients for the implantation of embryos.

(3) No person shall sell or slaughter for human or animal consumption any cattle, pig, sheep, goat, horse or poultry to which has been administered any hormonal substance, other than a substance administered under the provisions of subregulation (2) and for which, in the case of sale or slaughter for human consumption, the withdrawal period specified by the principal veterinary officer for that substance has elapsed since administration.

PART 4 – CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE PRINCIPAL VETERINARY OFFICER MAY AUTHORIZE OR REFUSE THE GRANTING 0F A PROVISIONAL IMPORT PERMIT

18. Imports of animals, animal products, biological products and related articles
(1) The principal veterinary officer may grant or authorize the granting of a provisional import permit–

(a) subject to the provisions of the Act, these Regulations and any Orders made under the Act, or of any other legislation from time to time regulating the importation of animals, animal products, biological products and related articles;

(b) if an application to import has been received, signed by an identifiable person to be domiciled in Vanuatu at the time of the proposed importation; and

(c) where in his opinion sufficient information has been presented in the application to assess systematically any quarantine risk relevant to the proposed import on the basis of biological and other evidence, and such an assessment has shown that the proposed import, subject to any conditions which may be laid down, is unlikely to be harmful to public or animal health or to the detriment of livestock production generally in, or the flora and fauna of, Vanuatu.

(2) Notwithstanding subregulation (1), a provisional import permit for the importation of live cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses and any other animal species which is not already present in Vanuatu may only be issued on the specific authority of the Minister.

19. Minimum conditions to be specified in permits
In granting or authorizing the granting of provisional import permits the principal veterinary officer shall, in the Schedule to the permit, specify such conditions to prevent the introduction of animal disease into Vanuatu as far as is reasonably possible and desirable for the benefit of public and animal health and livestock production generally, and to preserve the flora and fauna.

20. For live animals generally
For the importation of live animals generally, including embryos and ova, the conditions specified under the provisions of regulation 19 shall apply and shall include (but not be limited to) the following –

(a) subject to the provisions of any Order made under section 1 of the Act, the first port of entry into Vanuatu shall be specified in the provisional import permit;

(b) the time and date of embarkation, the estimated time and date of arrival in Vanuatu and the airline or flight number or ship or voyage number shall be advised to the principal veterinary officer at the earliest possible time and no later than 5 working days (excluding weekends and public holidays) before embarkation of the animals for Vanuatu;

(c) all animals shall be consigned to Vanuatu as manifested cargo unless specific provision has been made in the provisional import permit otherwise;

(d) the facilities for the transport of animals shall comply with the Recommendations for Transport of Live Animals of the O.I.E. and the IATA Live Animal Regulations as appropriate, or with any other code of practice for the welfare of animals in transit from time to time recognized in Vanuatu;

(ii) a declaration signed by the owner or exporter of the animals providing such information and guarantees as may be required regarding the history and origin of the animals;

(iii) an international animal health certificate signed and stamped by an official veterinarian of the exporting country certifying the state of good health of the animals and giving particulars where applicable of the biological tests to which the animals have been subjected and the vaccinations carried out on the animals which are the subject of the certificate and of any measures taken to prevent the spread of disease;

(f) all animals shall be transported directly without trans-shipment, offloading or contact with animals not the subject of the same provisional import permit or animals not of equivalent certified health status from the port of departure to the port of arrival in Vanuatu unless special provision has been made in the provisional import permit otherwise;

(g) the death, loss or sickness of any animal during the voyage shall be notified to a veterinary officer immediately on arrival in Vanuatu by the master of the vessel;

(h) all foodstuffs, litter, manure, straw or bedding and packing material, crates, containers or any other related articles shall be offloaded only on the instructions of a veterinary officer, who may order their cleaning, disinfection, destruction, incineration or dumping in the open sea;

(i) all animals and documents shall be inspected on arrival by a veterinary officer, except in the case of animals imported under multiple import permits a veterinary officer may delegate such inspections to a quarantine officer;

(j) only when the veterinary officer is satisfied, following the inspection referred to in paragraph (i) above, that the import is in accordance with the provisions of the Act or of these Regulations, that all conditions of the provisional import permit have been met up to the time of importation, and that no period of quarantine detention, treatments or tests are required, shall a “Permit to Land / Quarantine Release” be issued;

(k) unless a “Permit to Land / Quarantine Release” is issued according to the provisions of paragraph (j), all animals will be detained under quarantine control until further notice and be subjected to any test, treatment, disinfection or fumigation required;

(l) notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (i) and (j), a veterinary officer may, in accordance with section 9(g) of the Act, order any animals imported or introduced into Vanuatu in contravention of the provisions of the Act or these Regulations, or of any conditions of the provisional import permit, to be seized, slaughtered, destroyed, disposed of or re-exported at the owner’s expense;

(m) any provisional import permit granted may be cancelled or amended at any time after issue and before arrival of the animals in Vanuatu should the animal health and quarantine status of the country of origin change or be reported to have changed in the meantime;

(n) all costs and expenses of, and attendant upon, any importation including any documentation, tests, inspections, treatments, detention in quarantine, destructions or re-export, or of any other procedure or action taken or brought about under the provisions of the Act or these Regulations shall be borne by the importer and no compensation shall be payable by the Government for any loss or reduction in value caused by such action.

21. Importation of dogs
Notwithstanding regulation 20, for the importation of dogs, the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required, attesting that the animals:

(a) were examined within 24 hours of shipment, found to be in good health and showed no sign of any infectious disease;

(b) have been effectively vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis and canine parvovirus at least one month and not more than three months before shipment;

(d) have been effectively treated against roundworm, hookworm and whipworm within three days of shipment;

(e) have been effectively treated against, and found on examination to be visibly free of, all ectoparasites within three days of shipment;

(f) showed no clinical sign of rabies on the day of shipment, and were kept since birth or for the six months prior to shipment in the exporting country where no case of rabies was officially reported during the past two years.

22. Importation of cats
Notwithstanding regulation 20, for the importation of cats, the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the animals:

(a) were examined within 24 hours of shipment, found to be in good health and showed no sign of any infectious disease;

(b) have been effectively vaccinated against feline panleucopaenia at least one month and not more than twelve months before shipment, and feline viral rhinotracheitis or calici virus at least one month and not more than three months before shipment;

(d) have been effectively treated against roundworm, hookworm and whipworm within three days of shipment;

(e) have been effectively treated against, and found on examination to be visibly free of, all ectoparasites within three days of shipment;

23. Importation of domestic ruminants
(1) Notwithstanding regulation 20, for the importation of domestic ruminants, the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the animals:

(a) were examined in daylight within 26 hours of shipment, found to be in good health and showed no clinical sign of any disease, including skin diseases and external parasites;

(b) were kept since birth or for at least the six months prior to shipment in the exporting country which is free from foot and mouth disease, rabies and, for cattle, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, and where these diseases are notifiable;

(c) were kept since birth or for at least the thirty days prior to shipment in the exporting country which is free from rinderpest, Rift Valley fever and, for cattle, vesicular stomatitis and lumpy skin disease, and where these diseases are notifiable;

(d) were kept since birth or for the two months prior to shipment in the exporting country, or a part of the territory of the exporting country, which is free from Boophilus microplus infection;

(e) were kept since birth or for the forty days prior to shipment in the exporting country, or a part of the territory of the exporting country, which is free from bluetongue;

(f) have undergone dipping or spraying with an effective insecticide two times at seven day intervals, the last being within forty-eight hours of shipment;

(g) have for the thirty days prior to shipment been held in an official quarantine establishment during which time the animals were maintained in complete isolation, subjected to regular veterinary observation and at no time during which did either they or any other animals in the same quarantine establishment show any sign of disease.

(2) Notwithstanding regulation 20, for the importation of cattle, the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the cattle:

(a) come from a herd in which no clinical sign of bovine brucellosis was officially reported during the six months prior to shipment;

(b) come from a country or part of the territory of a country free from bovine brucellosis and showed negative response to effective tests for bovine brucellosis during the thirty days prior to shipment;

(c) come from a country or part of the territory of a country officially free from bovine tuberculosis, and showed negative response to an effective test for bovine tuberculosis during the thirty days prior to shipment.

(3) Notwithstanding regulation 20, for the importation of small ruminants (sheep and goats), the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the small ruminants:

(a) were kept since birth or for at least the thirty days prior to shipment in the exporting country which is free from peste des petits ruminants, sheep pox and goat pox, and where these diseases are notifiable; or

(b) were kept since birth or for at least the thirty days prior to shipment in a quarantine station where no case of peste des petits ruminants, sheep pox or goat pox was officially reported during that period, and that the establishment of origin and the quarantine station are not situated in an infected zone for these diseases.

(4) For any 0.I.E. List A or List B disease affecting domestic ruminants for which export health certification conditions have not been prescribed in these regulations, an international animal health certificate is required attesting:

(a) (i) that the exporting country is free from such disease and that no case of such disease was officially reported during the past six months; or

(ii) in the case where the country of export is not free from any such disease, meet such conditions as shall be laid down by the principal veterinary officer in the provisional import permit for such disease made in accordance with regulation 20;

(b) where the exporting country is not considered to be free from any 0.I.E. List A disease, or of any List B disease the introduction to Vanuatu of which is of economic or public health significance, and for which export health certification conditions have not been prescribed in these regulations, the principal veterinary officer shall impose conditions on the provisional import permit sufficient in his opinion to safeguard against the introduction of such disease;

(c) as soon as the animals arrive in Vanuatu they shall immediately be taken under the control of a veterinary officer to the quarantine premises previously approved by the principal veterinary officer, where the animals shall remain for a period of not less than thirty days, or for such longer period as the principal veterinary officer considers necessary.

24. Domestic equines
Notwithstanding regulation 20, for the importation of domestic equines –

(a) the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the animals:

(i) were examined in daylight within 24 hours of shipment, found to be in good health and showed no clinical sign of any disease, including skin diseases, mange and external parasites;

(ii) were kept since birth or for the six months prior to shipment in the exporting country which is free from rabies, where rabies is a notifiable disease and no case of rabies was officially reported during the past two years;

(iii) were kept since birth or for the two months prior to shipment in a part of the territory of the exporting country which is free from boophilus microplus infection;

(iv) were kept since birth or for at least the forty days prior to shipment in the exporting country which is free from African Horse Sickness (AHS), where AHS is a notifiable disease, and where no case of AHS has been confirmed and no vaccination against AHS bas been practiced for the past two years;

(v) were kept since birth or for at lease the twenty-one days prior to shipment in the exporting country which is free from vesicular stomatitis (VS), where VS is a notifiable disease and no clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of vesicular stomatitis has been found during the past two years;

(vi) for any O.I.E. List A or List B disease affecting equines for which export health certification conditions have not been prescribed in these regulations:

(1) that the exporting country is free from such disease and that no case of such disease was officially reported during the past six months, or

(2) in the case where the country of export is not free from any such disease, meet such conditions as shall be laid down by the principal veterinary officer in the provisional import permit for such disease made in accordance with regulation 19;

(vii) have undergone dipping or spraying with an effective insecticide two times at seven day intervals, the last being within forty-eight hours of shipment;

(viii) have for the twenty-one days prior to shipment been held in an official quarantine establishment during which time the animals were maintained in complete isolation, subjected to regular veterinary observation and at no time during which did either they or any other animals in the same quarantine establishment show any sign of disease;

(b) where the exporting country is not considered to be free from any O.l.E. List A disease, or of any List B disease the introduction to Vanuatu of which is of economic or public health significance, and for which export health certification conditions have not been prescribed in these regulations, the principal veterinary officer shall impose conditions on the provisional import permit sufficient in his opinion to safeguard against the introduction of such disease.;

25. Importation of pigs
Notwithstanding regulation 20, for the importation of pigs –

(a) the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the animals:

(i) were examined in daylight within 24 hours of shipment, found to be in good health and showed no clinical sign of any disease, including skin diseases, mange and external parasites;

(ii) were kept since birth or for the six months prior to shipment in the exporting country which is free from rabies and foot and mouth disease, and where these diseases are notifiable and no case of any of these diseases was officially reported during the past two years;

(iii) were kept since birth or for at least the six weeks prior to shipment in the exporting country which is free from swine vesicular disease, African swine fever, classical swine fever (hog cholera), and Teschen disease, and where these diseases are notifiable;

(iv) were kept since birth or for at least the thirty days prior to shipment in the exporting country which is free from rinderpest and vesicular stomatitis, and where these diseases are notifiable;

(v) have for the thirty days prior to shipment been held in an official quarantine establishment during which time the animals were maintained in complete isolation, subjected to regular veterinary observation and at no time during which did either they or any other animals in the same quarantine establishment show any sign of disease;

(vi) for any 0.I.E. List A or List B disease affecting pigs for which export health certification conditions have not been prescribed in these regulations:

(1) that the exporting country is free from such disease and that no case of such disease was officially reported during the past six months; or

(c) as soon as the animals arrive in Vanuatu they shall immediately be taken under the control of a veterinary officer to the quarantine premises previously approved by the principal veterinary officer, where the animals shall remain for a period of not less than thirty days or for such longer period as the principal veterinary officer considers necessary.

26. Importation of birds
Notwithstanding regulation 20, all birds shall be identified by their scientific name by genus and species in both the application to import and in the international animal health certificate.

27. Importation of domestic birds
Notwithstanding regulations 20 and 26, for the importation of domestic birds the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the birds:

(b) come from establishments which are regularly inspected by the veterinary authority;

(c) have been kept in a country free from Newcastle disease and fowl plague since they hatched or for at least the past twenty-one days;

(d) (i) have not been vaccinated against Newcastle disease (ND), fowl plague (FP), infectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease), avian infectious bronchities, avian infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) or fowl cholera; or

(ii) have been vaccinated against ND, FP, infectious bursal disease, avian infectious bronchities, ILT or fowl cholera using a vaccine complying with O.I.E. standards, the nature of the vaccine used and the date of vaccination to be stated in the international animal health certificate;

(e) if they have not been vaccinated against infectious bursal disease come from an establishment free from infectious bursal disease;

(f) come from establishments free from avian infectious bronchitis, ILT and fowl cholera;

(ii) have been tested negative for pullorum-typhoid disease and have been kept in a quarantine station for not less than twenty-one days prior to shipment;

(h) if, of the psittacidae family, showed no clinical sign of psittacosis-ornithosis on the day of shipment and were kept under veterinary supervision for the forty-five days prior to shipment and were effectively treated against psittacosis-ornithosis.

28. Day-old chicks, turkey poults and other newly-hatched avian species
Notwithstanding the provisions of regulations 20 and 26, for the importation of day-old chicks, turkey poults and other newly-hatched avian species, the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the newly-hatched birds:

(a) come from establishments which are regularly inspected by the veterinary authority;

(b) have not been vaccinated, and their parents have not been vaccinated, against Newcastle disease or fowl plague using a modified live virus vaccine;

(i) come from establishments or hatcheries situated in a state or territory of Australia free from Newcastle disease and fowl plague; or

(ii) come from establishments or hatcheries situated in a country other than Australia free from Newcastle disease and fowl plague;

(i) come from hatcheries situated in a country free from infectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease); or

(ii) come from establishments which are recognised as being free from infectious bursal disease following tests from the detection of precipitating antibodies;

(iii) come from establishments in which vaccination against infections bursal disease is not practiced on the parent stock; or

(v) were vaccinated against infectious bursal disease using a vaccine complying with O.I.E. standards, the nature of the vaccine used and the date of vaccination to be stated in the international animal health certificate; or

(vi) come from a flock in which vaccination against infectious bursal disease is practiced on the parent stock;

(d) were vaccinated against marek’s disease, the nature of the vaccine to be stated in the international animal health certificate;

(e) come from establishments or hatcheries which are recognised s being free from pullorum-typhoid disease, avian infectious bronchitis, avian infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) and fowl cholera;

(f) (i) come from establishments or hatcheries in which vaccination against avian infectious bronchitis, ILT and fowl cholera is not practiced on the parent stock; or

(ii) have not been vaccinated against avian infectious bronchitis, ILT and fowl cholera; or

(iii) were vaccinated against avian infectious bronchitis, ILT and fowl cholera, the nature of the vaccine used and the date of vaccination to be stated in the international animal health certificate ; or

(iv) come from establishments or hatcheries in which vaccination against avian infectious bronchitis, ILT and fowl cholera is practiced on the parent stock;

(g) showed no sign of mycoplasmosis on the day of shipment, originate exclusively from eggs produced by birds from establishments free from mycoplasmosis, and are shipped in clean and unused packages.

29. Hatching eggs
Notwithstanding regulations 20 and 26, for the importation of hatching eggs the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the hatching eggs:

(i) come from establishments or hatcheries situated in a state or territory of Australia free from Newcastle disease and fowl plague; or

(ii) come from establishments or hatcheries situated in a country other than Australia free from Newcastle disease and fowl plague;

(b) come from establishments or hatcheries which are regularly inspected by the veterinary authority;

(d) originate exclusively from birds kept in establishments free from mycoplasmosis;

(e) come from establishments or hatcheries which are recognised as being free from pullorum-typhoid disease and avian tuberculosis;

(f) have been disinfected in accordance with O.l.E. standards, are correctly identified, and are shipped in clear and unused packages.

30. Rodents and rabbits
Notwithstanding regulation 20, for the importation of rodents and rabbits the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the animals:

(a) have been effectively treated against, and found on examination to be visibly free of, all ectoparasites within three days of shipment;

(b) showed no sign of tularaemia on the day of shipment, and were kept since birth or for the six months prior to shipment in the exporting country where no case of tularaemia was officially reported during the past two years;

(c) showed no sign of myxoniatosis on the day of shipment, and were kept since birth or for the six months prior to shipment in the exporting country where no case of myxomatosis was officially reported during the past two years.

31. Embryos or ova of domestic ruminants and pigs
Notwithstanding regulation 20, for the importation of embryos or ova of domestic ruminants and pigs –

(a) the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that:

(i) the donor females and all other animals in the herd of origin showed no clinical sign of disease during the twenty-four hours prior to departure to the collection unit and for the following thirty days;

(ii) the donor females were kept in a country or part of the territory of a country free from bluetongue since birth and were kept in the same herd for at least the forty days prior to departure to the collection unit;

(iii) the donor females were kept in the same herd in a country free from foot and mouth disease and rinderpest for at least the thirty days prior to departure to the collection unit;

(iv) the donor females were fertilised with semen meeting the requirements for the importation of semen into Vanuatu;

(v) the collection unit remained free from foot and mouth disease, rinderpest and bluetongue during the forty days following collection;

(b) embryos or ova must be collected, washed, treated, examined for intact zona pellucida.

32. Food products of animal origin being imported as passenger baggage and for personal use
For the importation of food products of animal origin being imported as passengers’ baggage and for personal use –

(a) such products are to be accompanied by the provisional import permit issued for that importation;

(b) such products shall be commercially produced, package and sealed, and shall be labeled by the manufacturer clearly stating the contents and country of origin in either English or French;

(d) products imported under the provisions of this regulation must not be resold;

33. All other imports of animal products, biological products and related articles generally
For the importation of animal products, biological products and related articles generally, other than those imported under regulation 32 –

(a) subject to the provision of any Order made under section 19(1)(a) of the Act, the first port of entry into Vanuatu shall be specified in the provisional import permit;

(b) all animal products, biological products and related articles shall be consigned to Vanuatu as manifested cargo unless specific provision has been made in the provisional import permit otherwise;

(ii) an international health certificate signed and stamped by an official veterinarian of the exporting country certifying the state of good health of the animal products, biological products and related articles and giving particulars where applicable of any measures taken to prevent the spread of disease;

(d) all animal products, biological products and related articles shall be inspected on arrival by a quarantine officer;

(e) only when the quarantine officer is satisfied, following the inspection referred to in paragraph (d) above, that the import is in accordance with the provisions of the Act or of these Regulations or any regulations or Order made under it, that all conditions of the provisional import permit have been met up to the time of importation, and that no period of quarantine detention, treatments or tests are required, shall a "Permit to land / Quarantine Release" be issued;

(f) unless a "Permit to land / Quarantine Release" is issued according to the provisions of paragraph (e) above, all animal products, biological products and related articles will be detained under quarantine control until further notice and be subjected to any test, treatment, disinfection or fumigation required;

(g) notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (d) and (e) above, a veterinary officer may order any animal products, biological products and related articles imported or introduced into Vanuatu in contravention of the provisions of the Act, Order or any regulations made thereunder, or of any conditions of the provisional import permit, to be seized, destroyed, disposed of or re-exported at the owner’s expense;

(h) any provisional import permit granted may be cancelled or amended at any time after issue and before arrival of the animal products, biological products and related articles in Vanuatu should the animal health and quarantine status of the country of origin change or be reported to have changed in the meantime;

(i) all costs and expenses of, and attendant upon, any importation including any documentation, tests, inspections, treatments, detention in quarantine, destructions or re-export, or of any other procedure or action taken or brought about under the provisions of the Act, Order or any regulations made thereunder shall be borne by the importer and no compensation shall be payable by the Government for any loss or reduction in value caused by such action.

34. Meat and meat products derived from domestic ruminants
(1) Notwithstanding regulation 33, for the importation of meat and meat products derived from domestic ruminants, the presentation of an international health certificate is required attesting that the entire consignment of meat comes from animals:

(a) which have been kept in the country since birth, or have been imported from a country free from foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and peste des petits ruminants;

(b) slaughtered in an abattoir, found to be healthy before and after slaughter, cut up in a cutting-up establishment, and considered to be fit for human consumption.

(2) All materials imported must be labeled with a warning that it must not be fed to cattle, sheep, goats or other ruminants.

35. Meat and meat products derived from pigs
Notwithstanding regulation 33, for the importation of meat and meat products derived from pigs the presentation of an international health certificate is required attesting that the entire consignment of meat comes from animals:

(a) which have been kept in the country since birth, or have been imported from a country free from foot and mouth disease and rinderpest;

(b) which have been kept in a country free from swine vesicular disease since birth or for at least the past twenty-eight days;

(c) which have been kept in a country free from African swine fever, classical swine fever and teschen since birth or for at least the past forty days;

(d) slaughtered in an abattoir, found to be healthy before and after slaughter, cut up in a cutting-up establishment, and considered to be fit for human consumption.

36. Meat and meat products derived from poultry
Notwithstanding regulation 33, for the importation of meat and meat products derived from poultry the presentation of an international health certificate is required attesting that the entire consignment of meat comes from birds:

(i) which have been kept in an establishment situated in a state or territory of Australia free from Newcastle disease and fowl plague; or

(ii) which have been kept in an establishment situated in a country other than Australia free from Newcastle disease and fowl plague;

(b) slaughtered in an abattoir not situated in an infected zone of Newcastle disease and fowl plague, found to be healthy before and after slaughter, cut up in a cutting-up establishment, and considered to be fit for human consumption.

(a) for the importation of the semen of domestic ruminants and pigs the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the donor animals:

(i) showed no clinical sign of disease on the day of collection and for the following forty days;

(ii) were kept in a country free from foot and mouth disease for not less than six months prior to collection;

(iii) were kept in a country free from rinderpest for not less than twenty-one days prior to collection;

(iv) were kept in a country or part of the territory of a country free from bluetongue;

(v) were kept in the exporting country for the twenty-one days prior to collection, in an AI centre where no case of peste des petits ruminants, and, for semen of sheep and/or goats, sheep pox and for goat pox, was officially reported during that period, and that the AI centre is not situated in an infected zone of such diseases;

(b) for the importation of the semen of bovines the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the donor animals:

(ii) were kept in the exporting country for the thirty days prior to collection, in an AI centre where all animals are officially free from bovine tuberculosis; and

(iii) the testing programme at the AI centre from which the semen originates involves appropriate and effective tests for bovine brucellosis;

(c) for the importation of the semen of porcines the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the donor animals were kept in a country free from swine vesicular disease, African swine fever, classical swine fever and teschen disease for not less than six weeks prior to collection.

1.	Animal Products:
	(a)	Documentation fee for personal imports			VT 1,000;

	(b)	Documentation fee for commercial imports			VT 2,000;

	©	Inspection fee for personal imports			VT 500;

	(d)	Inspection fee for commercial imports			VT 1,500.

2.	Biological Products:
	(a)	Documentation fee			VT 500;

	(b)	Inspection fee			VT 1,500 plus the cost of any treatment if required

3.	Animals:
	(a)	Domestic pets and cage birds per pet -

		(i)	Documentation fee			VT 5,000;

		(ii)	Inspection fee			VT, 5000;

	(b)	Importation of agricultural livestock			exempt;

	©	Importation of equines -

		(i)		Documentation fee		VT 10,000;

		(ii)		Inspection fee		VT 10, 000.

	(d)	In addition to the fees specified for animal importations in paragraph 3(a), (b) and (c) above, the importer shall also pay the cost of any treatment, medication, detention, diagnostic tests or veterinary visits required following the importation.

AGRICULTURAL			Ref. No.
QUARANTINE CONTROL

APPLICATION TO IMPORT ANIMAL PRODUCTS

1.	What you should do -

	(a)	Complete and sign this form;

	(b)	Submit the completed form to the nearest Livestock office.

2.	Name in full ..........................................................................................................

3.	Address ..............................................................................................................
	...........................................................................................................................

4.	Place of business (if different from 3) ........................................................................

5.	Nature of business ................................................................................................

6.	Port of entry into Vanuatu: .......................................................................................

11. I apply for a permit for single/multiple* importation(s)* in respect of the items described above. I declare that the statements made above are true and complete in all respects.

Note: The Principal Veterinary Officer may require from you such further information as he considers necessary.

-------------------------------
For Official Use
-------------------------------

This application was lodged at ................................................ (office) on (date) ......................

Reasons for non-recommendation .........................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

AGRICULTURAL			Ref. No.
QUARANTINE CONTROL

APPLICATION TO IMPORT BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS

1.	What you should do -

	(a)	Complete and sign this form;

	(b)	Submit the completed form to the nearest Livestock office.

2.	Name in full ..........................................................................................................

3.	Address ..............................................................................................................

4.	Place of business ..................................................................................................

5.	Nature of business ................................................................................................

6.	Port of entry into Vanuatu: .......................................................................................

11. Supply on a separate paper detail information of the registration of the veterinary drug in the country from which such veterinary drug is intended to be imported from.

12. I apply for a permit for single/multiple* importation(s) in respect of the items described above. I declared that the statements made above (and in the attached paper*) are true and complete in all respects.

Note: The Principal Veterinary Officer may require from you such further information as he considers necessary.

This application was lodged at .................................................. (office) on (date) ....................

APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT TO IMPORT LIVE ANIMALS

1.	What you should do -

	(a)	Complete and sign this form;

	(b)	Submit the completed form to the nearest Livestock Office.

2.	Name in full ..........................................................................................................

3.	Address ..............................................................................................................

4.	Place of business ..................................................................................................

5.	Nature of business ................................................................................................

6.	Port of entry .............................................................................................................

11. I apply for a permit for single/multiple* importation(s) in respect of the items described above. I declare that the statements made above (and in the attached paper*) are true and complete in all respects.

Note: The Principal Veterinary Officer may require from you such further information as he considers necessary.

This application was lodged at .................................................. (office) on (date) ....................

This Provisional Import Permit authorizes ..............................................................................
........................................................................................ of ........................................
................................................................................................to import the following item(s):

The importation of the items specified above is subject to the following conditions:

1. Valid for single / multiple importation(s) until ....................................... unless previously cancelled.

3. The items to be imported are subject to the provisions of the Animal Importation and Quarantine Act [Cap. 201] and the Animal Importation and Quarantine Regulations (Order 14 of 1994) and the conditions in the Schedule attached hereto.

Signature of authorized Officer: ........................................................

Name and address of importer/consignee/agent .......................................................................
........................................................................................................................................

............................ AUTHORISED UNCONDITIONALLY
............................ AUTHORISED SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING
CONDITIONS OR TREATMENTS:

............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

1. Name and address of importer / consignee / agent ...........................................................
........................................................................................................................................

Date: ......................................... Authorized Officer ..............................................
(Name)

Welcome! Vanuatu is a country dependent on its agriculture to provide food for its people and to

and to generate exports. Please help to keep unwanted pests and diseases out by completing this form honestly and accurately. There are heavy penalties for making a false declaration.

THIS DECLARATION IS MADE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OTHER
MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY TRAVELLING WITH ME

Signature: ..................................... Date: ...................................

2(1)(a) Amended by Order 47 of 2002
28(b) Substituted by Order 44 of 2002
28(ba) Inserted by Order 44 of 2002
29(a) Substituted by Order 44 of 2002
34 Amended by Order 47 of 2002
35 Amended by Order 47 of 2002
36 Amended by Order 47 of 2002
36(a) Substituted by Order 44 of 2002

^[1] Editor’s note: Cap. 158 has since been repealed and replaced with Cap. 315. The equivalent provision in Cap. 315 is s. 49(2).

Description	Quantity	Sex (if live animals)	Country of origin	Port of entry into Vanuatu	Name and address of Supplier

Full description of consignment (Mark/brand/AWB/BL)	Quantity	Country of origin	Ship’s name or Flight number and port of entry

7.	Full description of items to be imported	8.	Quantity	9.	Country of origin	10.	Complete address of supplier

7.	Full description of Animal(s)	8.	Number	9.	Country of origin	10.	Name & address of supplier

7.	Description of Animals	8.	Number	9.	Country of origin	10.	Name & address of supplier

AGRICULTURAL
QUARANTINE CONTROL
PASSENGER’S DECLARATION ONE DECLARATION CAN BE MADE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF A FAMILY

Vanuatu Consolidated Subsidiary Legislation

Animal Importation and Quarantine Regulations