Statutory guidance

Import of birds and hatching eggs to approved premises under the Balai regime - Import Information Note (IIN) BTC/2

Published 2 December 2024

1. General information 

This Import Information Note (IIN) must be read in conjunction with the IIN for general information for imports of live animals and germplasm, which provides information on pre-notifications, veterinary checks, risk categories and more. 

References to European Union (EU) legislation within this document are references to direct EU Legislation which has been assimilated in Great Britain (assimilated direct legislation), as defined in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and can be viewed on the United Kingdom (UK) legislation website. 

2. Scope

This IIN explains the import requirements for captive birds and hatching eggs not in scope of Regulation (EU) 139/2013 and destined to premises approved under the Balai regime.

3. Approved premises 

Balai approval can only be given to premises in the  following categories:

• display, educational purposes
• research or scientific purposes
• conservation

Captive birds not covered by Regulation (EU) 139/2013 can only go to premises that are approved under the Balai Regime. For more information about premises approval contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team at imports@apha.gov.uk.

4. Pre-export requirements

• the birds must have been kept continuously in a bio-secure establishment, isolated from other birds which do not have the same health status for at least 30 days until the date of dispatch
  
  
• the birds must have been subjected within 48 hours prior to dispatch, to a clinical inspection and found free from obvious signs of disease
  
  
• Newcastle disease (ND) and avian influenza (AI) in poultry and other birds kept in captivity, psittacosis in psittacines are notifiable diseases in the country of origin
  
  
• the birds must come from a holding which is not under animal health restrictions in connection with any diseases referred to above
  
  
• AI and ND outbreaks must not have been notified either in the holding or in the surrounding area within a radius of 10km for at least 30 days prior to importation
  
  
• no outbreaks of psittacosis have been reported in the establishment of origin during the last 60 days prior to importation
  
  
• the birds must be subjected to a laboratory virus isolation or RT – PCR test 7 to 14 days prior to shipment with negative results for any AI and ND virus. The test for and AI and ND must be carried out on both oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs
  
  
• all virological and serological testing of samples must be carried out in official laboratories designated by the competent authority of the country of despatch using 2 diagnostic procedures in accordance with Chapter 3.3.4 and 3.3.14 of the Manual of Diagnostic tests and vaccines for Terrestrial Animals of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) - formerly OIE (OIE)

5. Health certification and documentation 

Birds imported from non-EU trading partners into Great Britain (GB) must be accompanied by an import licence.

Imports of avian influenza vaccinated birds require an additional import licence.  

For further information or to apply for either of the above licences please contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Centre for International Trade (CIT) - imports (see section 8 for contact details).  

Until late 2024, birds imported from EU trading partners, Greenland, and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries into GB, do not need to be accompanied by an import licence. 

Imports to GB must be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate based on the GB-published model certificate.

Model health certificates for birds (live).

6. Identification and requirements for transport

All birds must be identified with an individual identification number, by means of a uniquely marked seamlessly closed leg-ring or a microchip, in accordance with Article 66(2) of Regulation (EC) 865/2006. 

Identification (ID) numbers of leg-rings or microchips must bear at least the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) code of the exporting country performing the identification and a unique serial number. The ID number must be registered on the accompanying health certificate, as well as on the outside of the container that the birds are being transported in. 

All birds must be transported in new containers which must bear the unique ID number that corresponds with the ID number provided for on the accompanying health certificate. 

7. Post-import requirements

• the APHA imports team, CIT - Carlisle must be notified of the arrival of the consignment at the Balai premises within 24 hours in order to carry out the relevant checks
  
  
• post-import isolation must take place within the Balai approved premises of destination. Birds must be isolated for  30 days and release from isolation must be confirmed by APHA imports team, CIT on satisfactory receipt of negative sample results for AI and ND.
  
  
• the birds must be tested during the isolation period for AI and ND. The approved veterinarian of the destination premises must submit cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs taken between day 7 and 15 of the isolation period and submit the samples to the APHA Weybridge laboratory. All tests will be at the importer’s expense.
  
  
• birds found dead on arrival or that died from unexplained causes during the isolation period must be submitted to the APHA Weybridge laboratory for virus isolation at the importer’s expense
  
  
• the birds must remain on the Balai approved facility for at least 90 days in total. They may move to another Balai approved facility if  APHA imports team, CIT is informed but release from Balai conditions for imported birds must be agreed by APHA imports team, CIT 

8. Contact for further information

For more information about import requirements, contact the APHA imports team:

Centre for International Trade - Carlisle
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX

Email: imports@apha.gov.uk 

Telephone: 03000 200 301