Statutory guidance

Import of certain rabies susceptible animals under the Balai Directive - Import Information Note (IIN) BLLV/5a

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

The conditions that apply to movement of certain rabies susceptible animals (listed in Schedule 1, Parts 1 and 2 of the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974), are laid down in Council Directive 92/65/EEC (as amended), known as the Balai Directive. The Balai Directive covers animals and products which are not covered by other EU legislation. Movements under this directive are described as being ‘commercial’ moves or ‘trade’.

For conditions that apply to the movement of cats, dogs and ferrets under the Balai directive please see IIN BLLV/5b.

For conditions that apply to the movement of primates see IIN BLLV/6. 

3. UK and Crown Dependencies 

Trade movements between Great Britain (GB), Northern Ireland, the Channel Island and the Isle of Man are treated as national movements and as such, no animal health conditions are applicable.  

4. Health certification 

Imports to GB must be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate based on the model health certificate for other rabies susceptible species (including rodents, lagomorphs, carnivores and other mammals). 

5. Imports from the EU 

This IIN covers those species listed below that can be commercially imported from EU Member States. It is broadly broken down into lagomorphs (rabbits and hares), rodents, bats and carnivores (other than dogs, cats and ferrets).  

Lagomorphs (hares and rabbits) 

Lagomorphs can be imported from EU Member States without undergoing quarantine provided that they can meet the following conditions:

• they do not come from a holding nor have been in contact with animals that have come from a holding on which rabies is present or suspected to have been present in the last month
  
  
• they come from a holding on which there are no signs of myxomatosis
  
  
• they were born on a registered holding and kept in captivity since birth; and are accompanied by a health certificate with the appropriate statement for lagomorphs completed

If these conditions can be met, no licence will be required under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974. If these conditions cannot be met, a licence will be required and the animals will have to be quarantined.  

Rodents, hyraxes, xenarthra, eulipotyphyla, marsupials and dermoptera 

Rodents, hyraxes, xenarthra, eulipotyphyla, marsupials and dermoptera can be imported from Member States without undergoing quarantine providing that they meet the following conditions:

• they were born on the holding of origin and kept in captivity since birth
• they do not show any obvious signs of disease
• they do not come from a holding subject to any animal health restrictions
• they are accompanied by an owner’s declaration confirming these conditions.  

If these conditions can be met, no licence will be required under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974. If these conditions cannot be met, a licence will be required and the animals may have to be quarantined. Contact the Centre for International Trade (CIT) imports team for further information (see section 8). 

Bats 

A licence will be required under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974. Bats must spend 4 months in quarantine unless exempted, with the exception of vampire bats, which must spend their lives in quarantine. See section 7 for more information regarding rabies quarantine.

Other carnivores and other rabies susceptible animals 

All other animals covered by Schedule 1, Part II of The Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 (as amended) will require a licence under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 and must spend 4 months in quarantine unless they are exempted from quarantine. 

The animals must be accompanied by a health certificate completed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) of the country of origin which states that a clinical examination was carried out by an authorised veterinarian 24 hours before the dispatch of the animals and that the animals were in good health and fit to travel. Please note that for any of the above additional health conditions may be set.  

See section 7 for more information regarding rabies quarantine. 

6. Imports from third countries 

All categories of animals covered by this IIN from non-EU countries must be licensed into quarantine unless an exemption is granted. Please note that for any of the above additional health conditions may be set.

See section 7 for more information regarding rabies quarantine. 

7. Rabies quarantine 

The Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and other mammals) Order 1974 (as amended) requires that rabies susceptible animals (animals covered by Schedule 1, Part II of The Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 (as amended)) are quarantined for four months on arrival into the UK. 

List of species covered by the Order (RM01A: Guidance notes for application for a licence to import live animals other than pet dogs, cats and ferrets).  

It is possible to import some animals covered by the Order, into Zoos or Wildlife Parks without the need for quarantine, if certain conditions can be met. In order to decide if quarantine is necessary an application form (RM01) has been produced which, when completed fully, will enable a decision to be made.

Applications for import licences should be sent to CIT Carlisle, no later than 4 weeks before the proposed import date. The CIT import team will then carry out a risk assessment based on the information contained in the RM01 (application for a licence to import live animals other than pet dogs, cats and ferrets). If an exemption can be granted, a landing licence ID102 will be issued. If quarantine is required, the importer will be notified by the CIT import team and a landing licence RM3 will be issued.

View a copy of the application form or guidance note 

The animals must also be accompanied by a health certificate based on the model health certificate, completed and signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) of the country of origin which states that a clinical examination was carried out by an authorised veterinarian 24 hours before the dispatch of the animals and that the animals were in good health and fit to travel. 

8. Contact for further information  

For more information about import requirements, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (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