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Export

International health certificates for the export of animals from the United States are completed by the accredited veterinarian who certifies herd and animal health status, conducts tests, and records test results for the individual animals being exported. Completed and signed international health certificates for the export of animals from the United States must be endorsed by a Veterinary Services area office in order to be valid.

US Dept. of Agriculture: Preparing a horse for exportation

Required blood tests & Required health certificates, varies from country to country- please contact HFR Int’l or the US Area Vet in Charge of your state, for the latest requirements by country.

The following are the current members of the E.U. (European Union):

The Member States of the European Union (EU) are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. [The United Kingdom (UK) has left the EU but continues to follow EU harmonized import requirements, and has indicated that it will do so until at least the end of 2020.]

The following are the requirements for horses destined to the European Union from the United States, as of December 2019

The European Union currently has two classifications of horses traveling to the EU from USA:

Permanent Health Status

  1. A minimum of Thirty (30) day isolation, under the supervision of the USDA in the state of isolation.
    Vaccination against Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis within six (6) months or at least thirty (30) days prior to export.
  2. Subjected to a negative coggins AGID or Elisa test for Equine Infectious Anemia within thirty (30) days of export.
  3. Vesicular Stomatitis test within 21 days of the export, with a negative result at a dilution of 1 in 12
    In the case of an uncastrated male, a blood (or virus isolation test on a semen sample) test for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) needs to be taken with a negative result within twenty-one (21) days of export.

Temporary Health Status

In order to prepare a horse for export under the temporary health status, the following is required:

  1. Vaccination against Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis within six months or at least thirty (30) days prior to export.
  2. A coggins test AGID or ELISA for Equine Infectious Anemia with a negative result within 90 days of export.
  3. Vesicular Stomatitis test within 21 days of export, with a negative resul at a dilution 1 in 12.

In the case of an uncastrated male, a blood (or virus isolation test on a semen sample) test for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) needs to be taken with a negative result within twenty-one (21) days of export.

Insurance

Horses travel at owner’s risk! Whether on a van, ship, or aircraft, horses travel entirely at the owner’s risk.

Therefore we strongly urge all owners to obtain mortality insurance on their horse, to include the purchase price, and the cost of shipping whenever possible. References for Insurance carriers are available upon request.