Decree No. 64 of 2005 defining requirements and conditions for the importation of pets and domestic animals

Ministerial Decree Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries 1 Ministerial Decree Number (64) of the year 2005 On terms and conditions for importation of Pet Animals to the United Arab Emirates The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Having examined the Federal Law number (1) of the year 1972 on the terms of reference of the Ministries and powers vested upon the Ministers and the laws issued in amendment thereto, The Federal Law number (6) of the year 1979 on the Veterinary Quarantine and the laws issued in amendments thereto, The Cabinet Resolution number (18) of the year 2004 on the Organizational Structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, And upon the necessities of the public interest, Has decided the following: Article (1) Pet animals stated in this Decree shall mean the domesticated dogs and cats. Article (2) Pet animals shall not be imported in purpose of selling or transferring their ownership to other persons, and it shall be absolutely forbidden to Ministerial Decree Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries 2 import dogs and cats for trade purposes except through the competent authorities approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Article (3) Pet animals shall not be permitted for importation unless obtaining prior import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; and in case that any animal arrives to the country without obtaining prior importation permission from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries it shall be considered as an illegal importation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries shall have the right to send it back to the exporting country at the expense of the owner, or it may be destroyed or confiscated if the owner refused to do so. Article (4) Pet animal shall be obtained an official health certificate issued by the competent veterinary authorities in the exporting country according to the regulations applied in the United Arab Emirates. Article (5) Imported pet animal should be transported by air in accordance with the international terms and conditions of (IATA) by air cargo and not under baggage mode. Transportation should, by any means, ensure the safety and welfare of the animals and that they shall not come in contact with Ministerial Decree Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries 3 other animals not of the same health status during their journey to the United Arab Emirates. Article (6) Pet animals in the country shall have vaccination cards issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries or by the competent body authorized by the Ministry. Vaccination cards shall include all particulars related to the animal health. The competent authorities shall register the health status of the animal before leaving the country. On arrival of these animals to the country accompanied by health certificate issued by the exporting country they shouldn't need prior import permit provided that the instructions stated in the health card were properly followed. Article (7) Transit animals shall obtain prior import permit from the destination country and they shouldn't come in contact with other animals during their journey neither in the means of transportation nor in the quarantine premises in the country. Article (8) Animal wealth Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries shall issue a list including the prohibited kinds of importation from dogs and cats and shall include the kinds which may be dangerous to man and Ministerial Decree Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries 4 animals or any other animal species thought by the Department that they may contradict with the legislations issued for ensuring the health and welfare of animals. Animal Department shall review and amend the list when necessary. Article (9) Each animal arrives to any of the official outlets in the country and found not fulfilling the health terms and conditions of exportation to United Arab Emirates shall be immediately sent back to the exporting country at the expense of the owner or it may be destroyed or confiscated in case the owner refused to do so. Article (10) The animal wealth department shall circulate this Decree to all competent bodies, and shall be enforced as from the date of its issuance and to be published in the official Gazette. Saeed Bin Mohammed Al- Ragabani Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Made on 11 Moharam 1426 Hij Corresponding to 20/ 2 2005