Unofficial Translation

By: Noura-Magda MAURICE

Trade Section, EU Delegation in Cairo

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Egyptian Requirements for the importation from EU Member States

and the countries classified by OIE as Controlled BSE Risk

(excerpts from the minutes of the Egyptian General Organization for Veterinary Services - GOVS)

Regulations for the importation of pregnant heifers:

- differ according to the epidemiological status of each country(see, for instance, the decision of the Scientific Committee on 6/1/2009 concerning the importation of pregnant heifers from Germany).

* Requirements for the importation of pregnant heifers:

  1. Heifers exported to Egypt should be born and grown in the country of origin.
  1. Heifersshould be no more than 28 months old at the time of importation and pregnant at 4-7 months.
  1. Heifersmust come from farms and herds free from epidemiological and infectious diseases, particularly reproductive diseases, as well as free from enzootic bovine leucosis (EBL); theyand must have underwent two Elisa diagnostic tests with negative results for EBL, with a thirty-day period between the two tests, whereas a third test will performed in Egypt.
  1. Heifers must come from farms and herds where BSE has not been reported during 7 consecutive years, prior to the date of exportation.
  1. Heifers must be from mothers more than 7 yearsold, born after the application of the decision banning animal feeds containing animal proteins.
  1. The veterinary authorities of the country of origin have to notify the GOVS of any case of BSE recorded in herds exported to Egypt.
  1. The consignment must be accompanied by a health certificate stating that veterinary authorities in the country of origin have done the following:

Heifers have been quarantined for 30 days in Bluetongue disease-free zones.

Heifers have undergone two diagnostic tests for B.Tat the 14th day and the 28th day during the quarantine period prior to shipment, with negative results.

Heifers have been sprayed with an internationally approved insecticide.

  1. Heifers must be shipped directly from the country of origin to an Egyptian port(s) (in case there is no shipment port in the country of origin, a transit certificate must be added to the documents accompanying the consignment,taking into account the epidemiological status of the country of shipment).
  1. Upon arrival of the consignment to anEgyptian port(s), it should be examined by a committee formed of Veterinarians from the General Organization of Veterinary Services (GOVS), the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), the Central Administration for Preventive Medicine (CAPM), to check if accompanying documents meet the requirements set by GOVS and to examine if the animals are free from any symptoms of epidemical or infectious diseases.
  1. After arrival to an Egyptian port(s), the consignment shall be quarantined at the temporary quarantine accredited by GOVS, where all the quarantine procedures will be followed up by GOVS in coordination with the Directorate of Veterinary Services to which the temporaryquarantine is affiliated.
  1. Companies interested in importation of heifers, mustsubmit an application to GOVS, stating the quantity, countries of origin and shipment, date of expected shipping, date of expected arrival, in order to obtain official approval. In case of any change, GOVS must be notified officially prior to obtaining the approval of importation, so as to make the necessary arrangements.
  1. Any new requirements and instructions that might be issued by GOVS in the future must also be observed.

Regulations for the importation of heifers under the age of pregnancy

(excerpts from the Minutes of the Scientific Committee of GOVS, 27 December 2010, amended on 6/1/2011):

Committee s recommendations

Iimportation of heifers under the pubertal age is allowed, provided that they meet the following conditions:

-age: 10 months old at least;

-vaccinated at the quarantine of arrival;

-not distributed until they have been checked and proved pregnant (4-5 months).

If pregnant, the regulations concerning the pregnant heifers will apply.

Ifthe heifers do not become pregnant for whatever reason, the regulations concerning the calves for fattening will apply.

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