1. Electronic System of Animals Identification. Microchip implants must meet the ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 standards. Starting 2011 microchip implants is the only commonly accepted way of identifying an animal as opposed to marking techniques used in the past. To this day transponder (microchip) identification is by far the most reliable and up-to-date method of identification, which takes a one-off implantation and stays in an animal throughout its lifetime.
Electronic ID started back in 2004 following new EU regulations on introducing compulsory microchip implants for cats and dogs. In Ukraine over 6000 veterinary clinics have implemented this requirement. The veterinary border control has been equipped with microchip scanners allowing animals on travel to get scanned. A microchip is kept in a sterile bio-compatible glass capsule and carries a lifelong unique 15-digit code. The implantation of a microchip is pain free and takes about two minutes. The procedure is similar to an injection, where a vet doctor injects a microchip in the tissue of an animal through a hollow needle.
A disposable applicator and a microchip for implantation are stored in a sealed sterile package. The use of bio-compatible glass capsule prevents microchip from migrating under an animal’s skin. Microchip requires no batteries and has no moving parts, which makes it an expiration free item and provides a lifelong electronic identification. The costs of implanting a microchip in Ukraine vary from UAH 130 to 400, and depend on the price of the microchip itself as well as the service price of a particular vet clinic or a private vet doctor. A list of chipped animals is publicly available at Animal-ID-Info website and at Single Database of Chipped Animals in Ukraine.
2. International Pet Passport. Starting 1st June 2018 the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food in Ukraine adopted a single form of passports for pets. The new-type passports are only issued at the state veterinary institutions. The old-type pet passports will remain valid until all state institutions have been supplied with the new passports.
Animals travelling to the EU must have new type pet passports.
Pet passport must contain the following information: Date of birth, name of the pet, breed, colour, gender, electronic microchip number (implantation date and positioning of a microchip on the body of an animal), photograph (optional). Pet passport must also have records of all vaccinations (names of vaccines supported by a stamp and a signature of the vet doctor). The owner’s information has to include name of the owner, proof of address and a telephone number.
3. Rabies Vaccination. Having checked pet’s ID, vet doctor makes a record of the name of the rabies vaccine, puts the date it was made, his signature and a stamp. The duration of the rabies vaccination depends on the vaccine used but may not be older than one year. Rabies vaccination is made to a three months old animal or older and must not be older than 1 month before the travel date. Traveller willing to take an animal younger than three months old should read about the rules and regulations on bringing an unvaccinated animals to the country of destination.
4. 1 VET Form – is a veterinary certificate issued by the state services of veterinary medicine not later than three days before the planned travel date. This form if filled out in the official language. 1 VET Form is a primary document giving permit to ship animals or birds (is the only document for crossing the state border for the later). The document specifies animal’s travel itinerary. For instance, when shipping cat from Kyiv to Los Angeles, Kyiv is the outbound, Amsterdam is the transit airport and Los Angeles is the final destination. Pet’s owners can obtain 1 VET Form at the state service of veterinary medicine provided they can present a pet’s passport with all vaccines made to the date (this must include the date of vaccination was made, supported by a stamp and the vet’s signature).
The required vaccines should be made one month the earliest and one year the latest from the planned travel date. Requirements in some countries may vary.
The State Service of Veterinary Medicine will replace a 1 VET Form with an international veterinary certificate at the state border. The international veterinary certificate meets the requirements of relevant international authorities and can be issued in the outbound country and is a proof of the state of health of an animal to be exported. Veterinary specialists fill in the certificate in the official language of the country at the border checkpoint.
5. Certificate of antibody titer blood test for rabies. The certificate must be obtained within the period of 4 and 12 months from the rabies vaccination date. The blood taken may only be examined at one of the accredited laboratories. In Ukraine, the accredited laboratory is located at the State Research and Development Centre for Laboratory Diagnosis and Veterinary-Sanitary Inspection. When taking the blood test, the level of neutralising antibodies must be not lower than 0.5 IU/ml. The results of the blood test shall remain valid throughout the lifetime of an animal, provided annual vaccination was performed in timely manner.
6. Dehelminthisation and Anti-Parasite Treatment Against Ectoparasitoses. These must also be done 24 to 48 hours before the planned travel date. Vet doctor should make a relevant record of these procedures in a pet passport.
7. Breeding Value Certificate is NOT REQUIRED.
8. Import Permission From the Ministry of Agriculture / Animal Health Department / Quarantine Airport Service of the Country of Destination. The following countries require the named permission: Switzerland, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Senegal, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Australia, New Zealand. Please check requirements for other countries. Permission can be obtained by filling in the online application form at the official website of the authorised office dealing with animals’ import in the country of destination.
9. CITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. If your pet is a CITES enlisted species, you will be required to receive an export permission from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Ukraine.
10. Licenced animal shipping containers must comply with IATA requirements and fit the size of an animal. Containers must be made of either plastic or wood and must be equipped with bar doors and a reliable lock for air travel. Use of key locks as well as coded locks is not allowed. Containers must be large enough for an animal to stand up, turn around and lay down with legs stretched. Animals less than 65 cm tall should be transported in plastic containers equipped with locks suitable for air travel. Animals over 70 cm tall as well as birds and rodents should be transported in special custom-made wooden containers. Petsvoyage manufactures such containers (link to containers page) that comply with IATA requirements and are accepted by all major airlines. Please use the following tips to measure the right size of a container for your pet: Height – the height of your pet standing with its head up plus 6-10 cm from the ear level; Width – multiply the width of your animal’s body by two; Length – the length of your animal plus half the length of its legs.