Statutory guidance

Import of salamanders - Import Information Note (IIN) BSAL/1

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

Import conditions for salamanders into Great Britain (GB).

The conditions for imports of salamanders into GB relate to the control of the fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivor (Bsal), as set out in Decision (EU) 2018/320. 

Consignments should be imported under commodity code 01069000. 

3. Country of origin  

Imports are permitted from trading partners listed in documents published by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers. See the documents for salamanders for:

• non-EU countries
• EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries

Article 4 of Decision (EU) 2018/320 states that salamanders may only be imported from countries found in either of the above links, that are listed for:

• equidae
• meat products
• poultry and poultry products
• meat of wild leporidae, of certain wild land mammals and of farmed rabbits
• fresh meat of ungulates
• milk and milk products

4. Health certificate and documentation 

The importer or agent must provide a written attestation in English, which is signed by the natural or legal person responsible for the appropriate establishment of destination, stating:

• the name and address of the appropriate establishment of destination
• that the appropriate establishment of destination complies with the minimum conditions set out in Annex II to Decision (EU) 2018/320
• that the consignment of salamanders will be accepted for quarantine

This document must be provided when entering GB at the BCP.

Imports to GB must be accompanied by:

• the appropriate health certificate (find model health certificates for other live animals)
• a fitness to travel declaration signed by the owner/exporter, for both pets and commercial imports

5. Import requirements 

Consignments of salamanders must meet the following conditions:

• the salamanders must not show clinical signs of Bsal, in particular they must show no skin lesions and ulcers at the time of examination by the Official Veterinarian (OV) within 48 hours of the time of dispatch of the consignment
• the epidemiological unit comprising the salamanders in the consignment must have been isolated from other salamanders at the latest at the time of the examination for the purposes of issuing of animal health certificate and they must not have been in contact with other salamanders since that time

Quarantine 

On arrival in GB, salamanders must be quarantined in an appropriate establishment of destination, which meets the conditions set out in Annex II of Decision (EU) 2018/320. 

For more information and to arrange quarantine requirements, contact the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) at fhi@cefas.gov.uk.

Consignments will be released from quarantine by the official or approved veterinarian by a written authorisation either:

• when a consignment comprises 62 or more salamanders and testing has been carried out in line with points 1 and 2 of Annex III of Decision (EU) 2018/320, provided that at least 6 weeks has elapsed since the date the salamanders entered quarantine and not before the receipt of the negative test results (whichever is later)
• when a consignment comprises less than 62 salamanders after satisfactory completion of the treatment in accordance with points 1(b) and 3 of Annex III of Decision (EU) 2018/320

6. Northern Ireland (NI)

Trade movements from NI into GB are treated as national movements and as such, no animal health conditions are applicable.

More information about movements from NI to GB 

7. Contact for further information on import requirements 

For more information about import requirements, contact CEFAS or the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team:

Fish Health Inspectorate
Barrack Road
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 8UB

Email: fhi@cefas.co.uk

Telephone: 01305 206700

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

Email: imports@apha.gov.uk 

Telephone: 03000 200 301