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Animal Imports Act

Commencement: 30 September 1977

LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
REVISED EDITION 1988

CHAPTER 98

ANIMAL IMPORTS

JR 16 of 1977
Act 8 of 1986

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

PART I
General provisions

1. Interpretation

PART II
Prohibited imports

2. General prohibition on import of animals
3. Importation of cats and dogs
4. Importation of bovines
5. Importation of sheep
6. Importation of goats
7. Importation of pigs

8. Importation of horses
9. Importation of rabbits and fowl

PART III
Prohibited imports of products of animal
origin and miscellaneous products

10. Importation of bovine semen or embryos

11. Importation of ram's etc., semen or embryos
12. Importation of boar's semen or pigs embryos
13. Importation of eggs for hatching

14. Importation of meat products derived from cattle etc.
15. Importation of meat products derived from pork etc.

16. Importation of poultry products

17. Importation of milk products
18. Importation of biological products to be used on animals

19. Importation of leather and other animal products

20. Importation of straw, fodder and fertiliser

PART IV
Import requirements

21. Imports through designated ports
22. Application for import of animals
23. Issue of provisional import licence
24. Documents to be produced at time of inspection
25. Issue of animal health inspection certificate
26. Return of animal
27. Foodstuffs etc., accompanying imported animal
28. Disinfection of crates etc., used by animals
29. Inspection of ships and aircraft
30. Disposal of kitchen scraps

PART V
Quarantine on entering Vanuatu

31. Removal of animal to quarantine
32. Length of quarantine
33. Costs of quarantine
34. Slaughter of diseased animal
35. Supervision during quarantine
36. Death of animal during quarantine
37. Health certificate on expiry of quarantine
38. Removal of animals from quarantine station
39. Extension of quarantine period
40. Penalty for withholding animal from quarantine

PART VI

Statutory declarations and health certificates required for the
Importation of non-prohibited animal products

41. Documents for import of cats or dogs

42. Documents for import of bovines
43. Documents for import of sheep and goats
44. Documents for import of pigs
45. Documents for import of horses etc.

46. Documents to accompany import of semen etc.

47. Documents to accompany imported meat
48. Documents to accompany imported bovine etc., products
49. Documents to accompany pork

50. Documents to accompany imported pork-based products

51. Documents to accompany tinned meat
52. Documents to accompany imported poultry
53. Documents to accompany poultry-based products

54. Documents to accompany imports of tinned poultry

55. Import of eggs
56. Import of sterilised milk
57. Import of tinned milk

58. Import of fermented milk
59. Import of cream
60. Import of butter
61. Import of cheese

62. Import of wool etc.
63. Import of meat meal etc.

64. Import of animal-based fertilisers

65. Import of leather and skins

PART VII
Movements of animals within Vanuatu

66. Prohibition of movement of and movement permits for animals

67. Application for movement permit

68. Veterinary inspection
69. Further inspections in certain areas
70. Refusal of certificate
71. Permit to be retained and produced on demand

PART VIII
Animal health inspection and disease control

72. Health inspections

73. Agreement with owner of animals
74. Inspection in cases of emergency
75. Duties of owner

76. Loss or injury to animal
77. Slaughter of infected animals
78. Quarantine of property
79. Diseased etc., animals to be reported

PART IX
Offences and penalties

80. Penalty for unlawful import of animals
81. Penalty for other breaches of this Act
82. Regulations

83. Report on infringement

SCHEDULE 1-Countries free from rabies and boophilus microplus

SCHEDULE 2-Countries free of foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, blue tongue, contagious bovine pleuro pneumonia, boophilus microplus, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, heart water and theileriosis

SCHEDULE 3-Countries free of foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, blue tongue, boophilus microplus, babesiosis, theileriosis and scrapic

SCHEDULE 4-Countries free from foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, swine fever and vesicular disease

SCHEDULE 5-Countries free from African horse sickness, equine encephalomyelitis, glanders, dourine, equine infectious anaemia, vesicular stomatitis and boophilus microplus

SCHEDULE 6-Countries free of foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, blue tongue and ephemeral fever
SCHEDULE 7-Countries free of foot and mouth disease and rinderpest
SCHEDULE 8-Countries free from fowl plague and newcastle disease.

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ANIMAL IMPORTS

To prescribe conditions for the importation of animals and animal products into Vanuatu, the movement of animals within Vanuatu and to provide for animal health inspection.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

INTERPRETATION

1. In this Act -

"export approved abattoir" shall mean any abattoir authorised to export in accordance with the standards in force in the country of origin;

"animal" means any living creature with the exception of plants and human beings and includes arachnids, birds, fish, insects and reptiles;

"herd officially free from brucellosis" means a herd of animals not subject to vaccination against brucellosis in which all animals aged over 12 months have in the last 5 years at least been tested by sero-agglutination at least twice a year at 6 month intervals with the result not exceeding 30 international units per millilitre;

"herd officially free from leucosis" means a herd of animals in which all animals aged over 2 years have every year for the past 5 years at least undergone either a haemopathological or a gel diffusion test or fluorescent antibody microscopy;

"herd officially free from bovine tuberculosis" means a herd of animals in which all animals aged over 6 weeks have been subjected to the intradermal tuberculin test twice annually at intervals of 6 months at least for the past 5 years;

"country" means any territory inhabited by a community constituting a named geographical reality;

"farmyard birds" include chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pigeons and guinea fowl likewise so-called day-old chicks;

"foreign" used in connection with a country means any country other than Vanuatu; used in connection with an animal means one such imported into Vanuatu from a foreign country;

"holding" means a place where any animal is reared and kept commercially for consumption or stock breeding purposes;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for agriculture and livestock; "port" includes airport;

"port open to imports" means any port prescribed as such by the Minister under paragraph (b) of section 82(2);

"animal products" includes meat, products based on meat, milk products, semen, eggs, and egg products, meat meal, and bone meal;

"milk products" includes milk, cheese, powdered milk and generally any product containing milk or manufactured from milk;

"biological products" includes serums and vaccines and generally any preparation made from animal organs or extracts intended for the treatment or prevention of sickness in animals;

"quarantine station" means any station described as such by the Minister under paragraph (c) of section 82(2) or, with respect to any foreign country, any station so prescribed by the competent authorities of such country;

"veterinary officer" means a veterinarian employed in the service of the Government;

"killed poultry" means farmyard birds after slaughter presented in the form of whole carcasses or in pieces with or without the entrails;

"meat" means all parts of an animal carcass including offal and bone;

"stock inspector" means any person employed in the Department of Agriculture and Livestock who has been designated as such by the principal veterinary officer or authorised by him to inspect animals;

"veterinary inspector" means a veterinary officer appointed as a veterinary inspector by the Minister.

PART II
PROHIBITED IMPORTS

GENERAL PROHIBITION ON IMPORT OF ANIMALS

2. The importation into Vanuatu from any country of origin through any customs channel, including transit of animals other than dogs, cats, bovines, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, rabbits and farmyard birds is hereby prohibited unless specific written permission has been obtained from the principal veterinary officer for such importation.
   

IMPORTATION OF CATS AND DOGS

3. The importation into Vanuatu through any customs channel, including transit of dogs or cats whose country of origin is infected with rabies is hereby prohibited. Any country which does not appear on the list at Schedule I of territories free from these infections for at least 3 years shall be deemed to be infected with rabies and boophilus microplus.
   

IMPORTATION OF BOVINES

4. (1) The importation into Vanuatu by any customs channel including transit of bovines from countries infected with any one or more of the following diseases -
   
   • (a) foot and mouth disease;
     

(b) rinderpest;

(c) blue tongue fever;

(d) contagious bovine pleuropneumonia;

(e) boophilus microplus;

(f) babesiosis;

(g) anaplasmosis;

(h) theileriosis;

(i) heart water; or

(j) ephemeral fever,

is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 2 of territories free from these diseases shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of the said diseases.

(2) The importation or transit through Vanuatu of bovines whose country of origin is deemed to be infected may be authorised by the principal veterinary officer if he is satisfied that every animal in question, in addition to the guarantees required for importation from countries free of disease, comply with the following conditions -

(a) such animal has been subjected at its holding of origin offering the animal health guarantees provided in the provisional import authorisation issued in accordance with the provisions of section 23 of this Act, to the diagnostic tests mentioned in the said authorisation;

(b) such animal has been subjected at an official quarantine station in the country of origin to surveillance and the necessary diagnostic tests to ensure that it carries none of the above-mentioned diseases;

(c) such animal is subjected at least to 3 month's quarantine at a maximum security quarantine station upon arrival in Vanuatu in order to confirm the absence of the diseases specified in subsection (1).

IMPORTATION OF SHEEP

5. (1) The importation into Vanuatu by any customs channel, including transit of sheep from countries infected with any one of the following diseases -
   
   • (a) foot and mouth disease;
     

(b) rinderpest;

(c) blue tongue fever;

(d) boophilus microplus;

(e) babesiosis;

(f) anaplasmosis; or

(g) heart water;

is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 3 of territories free of these diseases shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of the said diseases.

(2) The importation into or transit through Vanuatu of sheep from infected countries may be authorised by the principal veterinary officer if he is satisfied that every animal in question -

(a) has been subjected at its holding of origin offering the animal health guarantees provided in the provisional import authorisation issued in accordance with the provisions of section 23 of this Act, to the diagnostic tests mentioned in the said authorisation;

(b) has been subjected at an official quarantine station in the country of origin to surveillance and the necessary diagnostic tests to ensure that it carries none of the above-mentioned diseases; and

(c) is subjected to at least 3 month's quarantine at a maximum security quarantine station upon arrival in Vanuatu in order to confirm the absence of the diseases specified in subsection (1).

IMPORTATION OF GOATS

6. (1) The importation into Vanuatu by any customs channel, including transit of goats whose country of origin is infected with any one of the following diseases -
   
   • (a) foot and mouth disease;
     

(b) rinderpest;

(c) blue tongue fever;

(d) boophilus microplus;

(e) babesiosis;

(f) anaplasmosis; or

(g) heart water,

is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 2 of territories free from these diseases shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of the said diseases.

(2) The importation into or transit through Vanuatu of goats from countries deemed to be infected may be authorised by the principal veterinary officer if he is satisfied that every animal in question, in addition to the guarantees required for import from countries free from these diseases, complies with the following conditions -

(a) such animal has been subjected at the holding of origin offering the animal health guarantees provided in the provisional import authorisation issued according to the provisions of section 23 of this Act, to the diagnostic tests mentioned in the said authorisation;

(b) such animal has been subjected at an official quarantine station in the country of origin to surveillance and the diagnostic tests necessary to ensure that it carries none of the above-mentioned diseases;

(c) such animal is subjected to 3 month's quarantine at least upon arrival in Vanuatu at a maximum security quarantine station in order to confirm the absence of such diseases.

IMPORTATION OF PIGS

7. (1) The importation into Vanuatu by any customs channel, including transit of pigs whose country of origin is infected with foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, swine fever or swine vesicular disease is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 4 of territories free of such diseases shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of the said diseases.
   

(2) The importation into or transit through Vanuatu of pigs whose country of origin is deemed to be infected may be authorised by the principal veterinary officer if he is satisfied that every animal in question, in addition to the guarantees required for import from countries free of these diseases, complies with the following conditions -

(a) such animal has been subjected at the holding of origin offering the animal health guarantees provided in the provisional import authorisation issued in accordance with the provisions of section 23 of this Act, to the diagnostic tests mentioned in the said authorisation;

(b) such animal has been subjected at an official quarantine station in the country of origin to surveillance and the necessary diagnostic tests to ensure that it is carrying none of the above-mentioned diseases;

(c) such animal is subjected to at least 1 month's quarantine upon arrival in Vanuatu in order to confirm the absence of such diseases specified in subsection (1).

IMPORTATION OF HORSES

8. (1) The importation into Vanuatu by any customs channel, including transit of horses from countries infected with any one or more of the following diseases -
   

(a) equine fever;

(b) equine encephalomyelitis;

(c) glanders;

(d) dourine;

(e) equine infectious anaemia;

(f) vesicular stomatitis; and

(g) boophilus microplus,

is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 5 of territories free from such diseases shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of the said diseases.

(2) The importation into or transit through Vanuatu of horses from countries deemed to be infected may be authorised by the principal veterinary officer if he is satisfied that every such animal, in addition to the guarantees required for import from countries free of these diseases, satisfies the following conditions -

(a) such animal has been subjected at the holding of origin offering animal health guarantees provided in the provisional import authorisation issued in accordance with the provisions of section 23 of this Act, to the diagnostic tests mentioned in the said authorisation;

(b) such animal has been subjected at an official quarantine station in the country of origin to surveillance and the necessary diagnostic tests to ensure that it is not carrying any of the above-mentioned diseases; and

(c) such animal is subjected to at least I month's quarantine upon arrival in Vanuatu in order to confirm the absence of these diseases,

IMPORTATION OF RABBITS AND FOWL

9. (1) The importation into Vanuatu through any customs channel, including transit, of rabbits and farmyard birds from any country is hereby prohibited:
   

Provided that the import of any of the above-mentioned animals may be authorised by the principal veterinary officer if he is satisfied that such animal or bird comes from a holding placed under the official control of the veterinary department of the country of origin and is subject to provisions avoiding all possibility of infection -

(a) in the case of rabbits, by myxomatosis; or

(b) in the case of farmyard birds, by the agents responsible for fowl plague, newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, infectious laryngotracheitis, marek disease, salmonellosis, fowl cholera, encephalomyelitis of fowl, mycroplasmosis fowl pox, tuberculosis, and leucosis.

PART III

PROHIBITED IMPORTS OF PRODUCTS OF
ANIMAL ORIGIN AND MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS

IMPORTATION OF BOVINE SEMEN OR EMBRYOS

10. The importation into Vanuatu through any customs channels, including transit, of bull's semen or any bovine embryo from countries infected with foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, blue tongue or ephemeral fever, is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list in Schedule 6 of territories free from such diseases shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of those diseases. The import or transit of the above-mentioned products from countries deemed to be infected may be authorised by the principal veterinary officer if he is satisfied that such semen or embryo -
    

(a) originates from a centre under the official control of the veterinary department of the country concerned and has been subject to provisions avoiding all possibility of infection by the agents responsible for the above-mentioned diseases;

(b) comes from animals which in those centres have been subjected to all the diagnostic tests mentioned in the provisional import authorisation issued in accordance with the provisions of section 23 of this Act; and

(c) is subjected to all the tests indicated in the import authorisation considered necessary to ensure that infectious germs are absent.

IMPORTATION OF RAM'S ETC., SEMEN OR EMBRYOS

11. (1) The importation into Vanuatu through any customs channels, including transit of ram's or caprine semen or sheep or goat embryos from countries infected with foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, blue tongue or scrapie, is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 3 of territories free from such diseases shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of those diseases.
    

(2) Importation into or transit through Vanuatu of the above-mentioned products from countries deemed to be infected may be authorised by the principal veterinary officer if he is satisfied that such semen or embryo -

(a) originates from a centre under the official control of the veterinary department of the country concerned and has been subject to provisions avoiding all possibility of infection by the agents responsible for the above-mentioned diseases;

(b) comes from animals which in those centres have been subjected to all the diagnostic tests mentioned in the provisional import authorisation issued in accordance with the provisions of section 23 of this Act; and

(c) is subjected to all the tests indicated in the import authorisation considered necessary to check that infectious germs are absent.

IMPORTATION OF BOAR'S SEMEN OR PIG EMBRYOS

12. (1) The importation into Vanuatu through any customs channels, including transit, of boar's semen or pig embryos from any country infected with foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, any of the swine fevers or swine vesicular disease is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 4 of territories free of such disease shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of those diseases.
    

(2) Importation into or transit through Vanuatu of the above-mentioned products from countries considered to be infected may be authorised by the principal veterinary officer if he is satisfied that such semen or embryo-

(a) originates from a centre under the official control of the veterinary department of the country concerned and has been subject to provisions avoiding all possibility of infection by the agents responsible for the above-mentioned diseases;

(b) originates from animals which in those centres, have been subjected to all diagnostic tests mentioned in the provisional import licence issued in accordance with the provisions of section 23 of this Act; and

(c) is subjected to all the tests indicated in the import licence and considered necessary in order to check that infectious germs are not present.

IMPORTATION OF EGGS FOR HATCHING

13. The importation into Vanuatu under any customs system, including transit, of eggs for hatching, whatever their country of origin is hereby prohibited:
    

Provided that in the case of eggs for hatching coming from hatcheries under the official control of the veterinary department of the country of origin and which have been subject to supervision avoiding all possibility of infection by the agents responsible for fowl plague, newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, infectious laryngotracheitis, marek disease, salmonellosis, fowl pox, tuberculosis and leucosis may be imported under the authority of an order of the Minister to that effect.

IMPORTATION OF MEAT PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM CATTLE ETC.

14. The importation into Vanuatu through any customs channel, including transit, of meat and products derived from cattle, sheep and goats, from countries infected with foot and mouth disease or rinderpest is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 7 of territories free of those diseases shall be deemed to be infected with one or both of these diseases:
    

Provided that the above prohibition shall not apply to meat and meat products which have undergone sufficient heat treatment to destroy the viruses of foot and mouth disease and rinderpest.

IMPORTATION OF MEAT PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM PORK ETC.

15. The importation into Vanuatu through any customs channel, including transit, of pork meat and products derived from pigs originating in any country infected with foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, swine fever or swine vesicular disease is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 4 of territories free of such diseases shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of those diseases:
    

Provided that the above prohibition shall not apply to meat and meat products which have been subjected to heat treatment sufficient to destroy the virus of foot and mouth disease, swine fever, rinderpest and swine vesicular disease.

IMPORTATION OF POULTRY PRODUCTS

16. The importation into Vanuatu through any customs channel, including transit, of dead poultry originating in countries infected with fowl plague or newcastle disease is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 8 shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of those diseases:
    

Provided that the above prohibition shall not apply to boned poultry; nor shall it apply to products based on poultry which have been subjected to heat treatment sufficient to destroy the viruses of fowl plague and newcastle disease.

IMPORTATION OF MILK PRODUCTS

17. The importation into Vanuatu through any customs channel, including transit, of milk and milk products originating in any country infected with foot and mouth disease or rinderpest is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 7 of territories free of such diseases shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of those diseases:
    

Provided that the above prohibition shall not apply to butter, cheese, fermented milk, cheese or milk and milk products which have been treated during manufacture in such a way as to destroy the viruses of foot and mouth disease and rinderpest.

IMPORTATION OF BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS TO BE USED ON ANIMALS

18. (1) The importation into Vanuatu through any customs channel, including transit, of biological products, growth promotants, hormones, and antibiotics for use in animal feeds is hereby prohibited.
    

(2) The Minister may by order exempt products from the provisions of subsection (1). Such order shall specify the conditions which must be met by the manufacturer of the exempted product, by the product itself, and also the conditions under which such product must be administered. In no case may any exempted product be administered otherwise than by a veterinarian or under the control of a veterinarian.

IMPORTATION OF LEATHER AND OTHER ANIMAL PRODUCTS

19. Subject to the provisions of section 64, it is prohibited to import into Vanuatu through any customs channel, including transit -
    

(a) any leather or skins other than those which have undergone a complete tanning process, or salted skins and leather originating in Australia and New Zealand;

(b) wool, bristle or animal hair from any country;

(c) meat meal, powdered blood, bone meal, and feedstuffs for cattle containing these products from any country; and

(d) fertilisers containing blood, meat, bone, horns or hooves from any country:

Provided that the products specified in paragraphs (c) and (d) may be imported if they have been subjected to heat treatment sufficient to destroy the spores of bacterial anthrax.

IMPORTATION OF STRAW, FODDER AND FERTILISER

20. The importation into Vanuatu through any customs channel, including transit, of straw, fodder and fertiliser from countries infected with foot and mouth disease, rinderpest or boophilus microplus is hereby prohibited. Any country whose name does not appear on the list at Schedule 2 of the territories free from those diseases shall be deemed to be infected with one or more of such diseases.
    

PART IV
IMPORT REQUIREMENTS
IMPORTS THROUGH DESIGNATED PORTS

21. No animal, animal product or biological product may be imported into Vanuatu except through those ports designated by the Minister as being open to such imports.
    

APPLICATION FOR IMPORT OF ANIMALS

22. Any person wishing to import an animal, the import of which is not prohibited, shall address a written application to the director of the department of agriculture and livestock, stating -
    

(a) the number, species, sex and place of origin of the animal or animals he wishes to import;

(b) the address of the quarantine station or the holding in which the animal or animals has or have been raised in the country of origin;

(c) the date on which it is planned to despatch the animal or animals;

(d) the name of the shipping company or airline and the name of the ship or flight number; and

(e) the date on which the animal or animals are expected to arrive in Vanuatu.

ISSUE OF PROVISIONAL IMPORT LICENCE

23. Upon receipt of the importer's application, the Minister, upon the advice of the principal veterinary officer, shall issue a provisional import licence specifying the animal health guarantee which must be given by the veterinary department of the country of origin, and also the precautions which must be taken during transport of the animal or animals to Vanuatu.
    

DOCUMENTS TO BE PRODUCED AT TIME OF INSPECTION

24. Any person who has obtained a provisional licence to import an animal into Vanuatu must, before unloading the animal or animals included in the licence, present to the veterinary inspector -
    

(a) the provisional licence to import the animal or animals;

(b) the health certificate issued in accordance with the requirements specified in the provisional import licence;

(c) a certificate from the commander of the ship or the aircraft transporting the animal certifying that the animal or animals have neither been unloaded during the voyage nor been in contact with other animals which do not fulfil the conditions provided by this Act.

ISSUE OF ANIMAL HEALTH INSPECTION CERTIFICATE

25. If the veterinary inspector considers that the provisions of this Act have been complied with and that the animal appears to be in good health, he shall issue the importer with an animal health inspection certificate which shall serve as an import licence for the customs department.
    

RETURN OF ANIMAL

26. Animals which do, not comply with the conditions laid down in this Act may not be unloaded in Vanuatu. If they arrive by air they shall either be sent back to their country of origin or slaughtered in accordance with the instructions of a veterinary inspector. The cost of transport, slaughter and destruction of animals shall be paid by the importer without prejudice to any penalties to which he may be liable.
    

FOODSTUFFS ETC., ACCOMPANYING IMPORTED ANIMAL

27. (1) Any foodstuffs accompanying an animal imported into Vanuatu must be subjected to examination by the veterinary inspector who may order the destruction of such foodstuffs.
    

(2) All stable litter and manure accompanying the animal during transportation shall be incinerated or dumped in the open seas and no other method of disposal shall be used.

(3) Straw, fodder or bundles of hay (whether graminaceous or leguminous) which accompanied the animal and were not consumed during transportation shall be landed in order that it be burned in accordance with the instructions of the principal veterinary officer unless it can be proved that such straw fodder or hay did not originate in one of the prohibited countries specified in section 20.

DISINFECTION OF CRATES ETC., USED BY ANIMALS

28. All crates or containers used by animals during transportation by sea or by air and all clothing, harnesses, cords, saddlery, and other equipment which has come into contact with the animal during transportation shall be cleansed and disinfected under the direction of a veterinary inspector.
    

INSPECTION OF SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT

29. Veterinary inspectors or any sworn officer shall inspect all ships and aircraft calling in Vanuatu. The off-loading of any foodstuffs from any foreign country during that stopover is prohibited. Veterinary inspectors shall place seals upon the doors of cold-rooms or containers used for such foodstuffs.
    

DISPOSAL OF KITCHEN SCRAPS

30. Kitchen scraps may only be off-loaded from ships or planes arriving in Vanuatu with the permission of a veterinary inspector. Such articles shall be placed in a water- and air-tight container and then destroyed by incineration under the control of the veterinary inspector.
    

PART V
QUARANTINE ON ENTERING VANUATU

REMOVAL OF ANIMAL TO QUARANTINE

31. As soon as any animal arrives in Vanuatu it shall immediately be taken under the control of the veterinary inspector to the quarantine station or to the holding specified on the provisional import authorisation. The veterinary inspector may first require the owner to provide security or to deposit with the treasury a sufficient sum to meet the cost and expenses.
    

LENGTH OF QUARANTINE

32. The period of quarantine of an animal upon its entry into Vanuatu, in application of the conditions imposed in the provisional import authorisation, may be extended by the veterinary inspector where there is any suspicion of contagious disease affecting such animal.
    

COSTS OF QUARANTINE

33. The costs of keeping an animal in a quarantine station shall be borne by the importer. The charges for keeping an animal in quarantine shall be prescribed by the Minister. Such charges shall not include the cost of any treatment administered by the veterinary inspectors to the animals during their stay at the station, either to effect the cure of any minor ailments or to improve their general condition. Any laboratory tests and controls which are considered necessary shall also be the subject of separate charges.
    

SLAUGHTER OF DISEASED ANIMAL

34. If during its stay at the quarantine station any animal shows clinical signs of contagious disease it shall be slaughtered and shall be disposed of on the directions of the principal veterinary officer. The owner of any such animal shall be informed thereof as soon as possible but shall receive no compensation unless the carcass is sold, in which case the proceeds shall be paid to him subject to deduction of the costs of quarantine and slaughter.
    

SUPERVISION DURING QUARANTINE

35. During its stay in quarantine every animal shall be under the supervision of the veterinary inspectors.
    

DEATH OF ANIMAL DURING QUARANTINE

36. The Government shall in no case be held responsible for any accident or death sustained by any animal whilst in quarantine.
    

HEALTH CERTIFICATE ON EXPIRY OF QUARANTINE

37. On the expiry of the period of quarantine every animal shall be examined by the principal veterinary officer who shall, if he is satisfied that such animal is free from disease, issue a health certificate stating the examination tests and treatment such animal has undergone. He shall give permission for the release of the animal only after payment in full of all the charges and expenses incurred during the quarantine of the animal.
    

REMOVAL OF ANIMALS FROM QUARANTINE STATION

38. (1) The owner shall then remove his animal or animals from the quarantine station at his own cost.
    

(2) If any owner refuses or fails for 7 days after expiry of the period of quarantine to remove any animal from the quarantine station in spite of a written order to do so the Minister may order the animal to be sold. The proceeds of such sale shall be paid to the owner after deduction of charges and expenses of quarantine.

EXTENSION OF QUARANTINE PERIOD

39. Upon coming out of quarantine, animals must remain for a minimum period of 3 months under veterinary supervision on the holding to which they have been sent; in the case of pregnant imported animals such period may be extended so that the animal remains on the holding until 6 weeks have passed after it has given birth.
    

PENALTY FOR WITHHOLDING ANIMAL FROM QUARANTINE

40. Any animal which is wilfully withheld from quarantine on entering into Vanuatu or which is withdrawn from the quarantine station before the expiry of the period fixed by the principal veterinary officer, may be slaughtered and destroyed or sold without prejudice to the penalties provided for in this Act.
    

PART VI
STATUTORY DECLARATIONS AND HEALTH CERTIFICATES

REQUIRED FOR THE IMPORTATION OF NON-PROHIBITED
ANIMAL PRODUCTS

DOCUMENTS FOR IMPORT OF CATS OR DOGS

41. Dogs and cats imported from countries whose names appear on the list at Schedule 1 shall be accompanied by -
    

(a) a statutory declaration by the owner giving a description of each animal and naming the district of origin and attesting that -

(i) each animal has been free from disease during the 12 months before shipment or since birth;

(ii) each animal has not during the 12 months before shipment been in contact with dogs or cats suffering or suspected of suffering from any contagious disease;

(b) a health certificate issued less than 5 days before the embarkation of the animal by the official veterinary department of the country of origin confirming the above description and attesting that -

(i) each animal has been examined and found to be in a good state of health and free of any skin disease and parasites;

(ii) in the case of any dogs over 4 months old, that it has been vaccinated against canine distemper and infectious canine hepatitis;

(c) in the case of any cat over 2 months old, that it has been vaccinated against typhus (infectious leucopenia).

DOCUMENTS FOR IMPORT OF BOVINES

42. Every animal of the bovine species imported from any of the countries whose names appear in the list at Schedule 2 shall be accompanied -
    

(a) by an attestation from the owner or the sender giving a precise description of each animal and establishment on which it has been raised, stating that the animal -

(i) has been free from all contagious diseases for 12 months preceding the exportation or since birth;

(ii) has not been in contact during the 12 months preceding exportation or since birth with animals suffering from any contagious disease of bovines; and

(iii) before being exported has never left the holding where it was born and has been raised;

(b) by a health certificate issued by the veterinary department of the country of origin confirming the above description and attesting -

(i) that each animal has been examined immediately before loading by a veterinary officer and found to be in good state of health;

(ii) that the clinical examinations to which each animal has been subjected reveals that there were no skin diseases or external parasites;

(iii) that each animal comes from a herd officially free from brucellosis for at least 5 years, that it has not been vaccinated against brucellosis and has undergone the tests to identify brucellosis within the 30 days preceding exportation with negative results: agglutination test-results not exceeding 30 international units per millilitre in the case of females, zero in the case of males; the complement fixation test, plus 1:2 or less;

(iv) that each animal comes from a herd officially free of bovine leucosis for at least 5 years and has been subjected within 30 days preceding its exportation to the gel-diffusion test or the fluorescent anti-body microscopy test for leucosis with negative results;

(v) that each animal comes from a herd officially free of bovine tuberculosis for at least 5 years and has during the 30 days prior to export been subjected to the intra-dermal tuberculin test using bovine tuberculin and avian tuberculin (maximum cutaneous thickening: 2 mm);

(vi) that each animal comes from a herd in which no clinical sign of Johne's disease has been noted for at least 5 years and has during 30 days prior to export been subjected to a complement fixation test and a microscopic examination of the rectal mucus with negative results;

(vii) that each animal comes from a herd in which no clinical sign of trichomoniasis and or vibriosis has been noted for at least 3 years, and that it has during the 30 days prior to export been subjected to the following tests for trichomoniasis and vibriosis with negative results -

(a) in the case of males, culture of prepuceal washing liquid;

(b) in the case of females, culture of vaginal mucus;

(viii) that each animal has during the 30 days prior to export been subjected to the agglutination test for leptospirosis (serum type L. pomona, L. canicola, L. australis, L. hyos, L. grippotyphosa and L. icterohaemorrhagiae) with negative results (strictly less than 50 per cent agglutination with 1-100 dilution);

(ix) that each animal has during the 30 days prior to export been subjected to treatment against internal parasites (distomatosis, parasite bronchitis and intestinal strongylisos).

DOCUMENTS FOR IMPORT OF SHEEP AND GOATS

43. Every animal of the ovine and caprine species imported from countries included in the list at Schedule 3 shall be accompanied by -
    

(a) an attestation from the owner or sender giving a precise description of each animal and certifying that the animal or animals -

(i) have each been free from all contagious disease during the 12 months preceding export or since birth;

(ii) have not been in contact during the 12 months preceding export or since birth with animals suffering from any contagious disease of the ovine and caprine species;

(iii) that before being exported each animal has never left the holding on which it was born and has been raised;

(b) a health certificate issued by the official veterinary department of the country of origin, confirming the above description and certifying -

(i) that each of the animals has been examined immediately prior to shipment by a veterinary officer and found to be in good health;

(ii) that the clinical examination to which each animal has been subjected has revealed no skin disease or external parasites;

(iii) that each animal comes from a herd officially free from brucellosis for at least 5 years; that it has not been vaccinated against brucellosis and has during the 30 days prior to export been subjected to the complement fixation test for brucellosis showing a negative result (+ 1:2 at the most);

(iv) that each animal comes from a holding where during the last 3 years no case of paratuberculosis, salmonellosis, due to S. abortus ovis, vibriosis, enzootic ovine abortion, caseous lymphadenitis, scrapie, progressive pneumonia, jagziekte, maedi, Iceland disease, or distomatosis, has been noted;

(v) that no case of mange has been discovered in the herd of origin during the 12 previous months;

(vi) that contagious agalactia (mycoplasma agalactiae) has not been noticed in the herd of origin nor within a radius of 25 km around that holding for at least 3 years;

(vii) that each animal was born and has been kept permanently in the herd of origin to which no animal of the ovine species from a foreign country has been added for at least 5 years;

(viii) that each of the females has not been mounted or inseminated, and that each of the males has not mated;

(ix) that the animals have during the 30 days prior to export been subjected to the following tests - agglutination test for leptospirosis; including serotypes of L. pomona, L. canicola, L. australis, L. hyos, L. grippotyphosa, L. icter-ohaemorrhagiae (less than 50 per cent agglutination at 1:100) complement fixation test for brucellosis showing negative results;

(x) that each of the animals has been bathed with an acaracide within 8 days prior to export.

DOCUMENTS FOR IMPORT OF PIGS

44. Every animal of the porcine species imported from countries appearing on the list at Schedule 4 shall be accompanied by -
    

(a) an attestation from the owner or sender giving a precise description of each animal, and certifying that each animal -

(i) has been free of all contagious diseases during the 12 months prior to export or since birth;

(ii) has not during the 12 months prior to export or since birth been in contact with animals suffering from any contagious disease of the porcine species;

(iii) before being exported, has never left the holding where it was born and has been raised;

(b) a health certificate issued by the official veterinary department of the country of origin confirming the above description and certifying that -

(i) each animal has been examined immediately before shipment by a veterinary officer and found to be in good health;

(ii) that the clinical examinations to which it has been subjected revealed no skin diseases or external parasites;

(iii) that each animal comes from a herd officially free from brucellosis for at least 5 years and has been subjected during the 30 days prior to export to an agglutination test showing negative results (less than 30 international units per ml) and to a complement fixation test showing negative results;

(iv) each animal has come from a holding which for the last 5 years at least has been re-stocking out of its own resources or has been accepting only breeding animals from holdings with a similar health status under an animal health agreement as under paragraph (v) below;

(v) has come from a holding which has been approved in accordance with the terms of an agreement between the Vanuatu Government livestock service and the country of origin. Such holdings may be approved when they are subjected to control by the official veterinary department making it possible to certify that those holdings have for the past 5 years, been free of atrophic rhinitis, leptospirosis, brucellosis and aujeszky's disease, trichinosis, cysticercus cellulosae;

(vi) each animal has during the 3 weeks prior to export undergone treatment against gastrointestinal parasites.

DOCUMENTS FOR IMPORT OF HORSES ETC.

45. Every animal of the equine and asine species likewise animals crossbred from such species, imported from countries included in the list at Schedule 5, shall be accompanied by -
    

(a) an attestation from the owner or sender giving a precise description of each animal and certifying that each animal -

(i) has been free from all contagious diseases during the 12 months prior to export;

(ii) has not during the 12 months prior to export or since birth been in contact with animals suffering from a contagious disease of the equine or asine species;

(iii) before being exported, has never left the holding where it was born and has been raised;

(b) a health certificate issued by the official veterinary department of the country of origin confirming the above description and certifying -

(i) that each animal has been examined immediately before shipment by a veterinary officer and found to be in good health;

(ii) that the clinical examination to which each animal has been subjected has revealed no skin diseases or external parasites;

(iii) that each animal comes from a country free from boophilus microplus and that it has undergone spraying with an approved acaracide 3 times during the 3 weeks prior to export;

(iv) that each animal has during the 30 days prior to export been subjected to the following diagnostic tests, with negative results -

• (a) complement fixation test for piroplasmosis;
  
• (b) coggins' test for infectious equine anaemia;
  
• (c) anti-body test for virus rhinopneumoniatis.
  

DOCUMENTS TO ACCOMPANY IMPORT OF SEMEN ETC.

46. (1) Bull semen and bovine embryos imported from countries included in the list at Schedule 6 must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a veterinary officer in the country or origin.
    

(2) Such certificate shall give all details necessary to enable identification of the origin of the semen or the embryos, the date on which they were taken, and the number of doses, or of embryos.

(3) Such certificate shall also attest that the animals from which the semen or embryos have been collected -

(a) have been kept on a station in respect of which a prior agreement has been made between the veterinary department of the country of origin and that of Vanuatu. In order to be approved the stations in question must be under permanent official veterinary control and be subject to veterinary regulations enabling the risk of infection of the animals from which semen or embryos are taken to be excluded;

(b) have been found to be free from brucellosis, tuberculosis, vibriosis, trichomoniasis, and bovine leucosis;

(c) between the time when the semen and or embryos were selected and the time of shipment have presented no symptom of contagious disease.

DOCUMENTS TO ACCOMPANY IMPORTED MEAT

47. (1) The chilled or frozen meat of bovines, ovines and caprines imported from countries appearing in the list at Schedule 7 must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the country of origin, certifying that such meat comes from animals which have been -
    
    • (a) inspected before and after slaughter and found to be healthy; and
      

(b) slaughtered in an approved export abattoir.

(2) Carcasses and cut meat for import must bear the mark of the veterinary inspection stamp affixed at the slaughter house of origin. In the case of cut meat on which no stamp can be affixed the mark shall be affixed to a label attached by a lead seal wire to each package containing such meat.

(3) The health certificate shall mention the characteristics of the stamp affixed to the meat, and the authorisation number of the slaughter house.

DOCUMENTS TO ACCOMPANY IMPORTED BOVINE ETC., PRODUCTS

48. (1) Meat products derived from the flesh of bovines, ovines or caprines imported from countries whose name appears on the list at Schedule 7 must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the country of origin certifying that all such products have been prepared -
    
    • (a) in an establishment approved for export purposes;
      

(b) from the meat of animals slaughtered at an export approved abattoir and which have been inspected before and after slaughter and found to be healthy;

(c) in accordance with the regulation in force in the country of origin for the protection of consumers' health.

(2) The health certificate shall mention the authorisation number of the establishment where the products were prepared, and all means of identification of those products.

DOCUMENTS TO ACCOMPANY PORK

49. (1) Chilled or frozen pork imported from countries whose names appear on the list at Schedule 4 must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the country of origin certifying that such meat comes from animals which have been -
    
    • (a) inspected before and after slaughter and found to be healthy; and
      

(b) slaughtered at a slaughter house approved for export purposes.

(2) Carcasses or cut meat presented for import must bear the mark of the veterinary inspection stamp affixed at the slaughter house of origin. In the case of cut meat on which no stamp can be affixed the mark shall be affixed to a label attached by a lead seal wire to each package containing such meat.

(3) The certificate shall mention the characteristics of the stamp affixed to the meat, and the authorisation number of the slaughter house.

DOCUMENTS TO ACCOMPANY IMPORTED PORK-BASED PRODUCTS

50. (1) Pork-based products imported from countries whose names appear on the list at Schedule 4 must be accompanied by a certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the country of origin certifying that those products have been prepared -
    

(a) at an establishment approved for export purposes;

(b) from the meat of animals slaughtered at an export approved abattoir and which have been inspected before and after slaughter and found to be healthy;

(c) in accordance with the regulations in force at the country of origin for the protection of consumers' health.

(2) The certificate shall mention the authorisation number of the establishment where the products have been prepared and all necessary means of identification of those products.

DOCUMENTS TO ACCOMPANY TINNED MEAT

51. Tinned meat may be imported from all countries provided that all such tinned meat has been treated by heat in a sealed container and is accompanied by -
    

(a) a declaration from the manufacturer indicating -

(i) the temperature at which sterilization was effected and the period of time for which the product was subjected to heat treatment;

(ii) that during the manufacturing process the entire contents of the tin have been heated to more than 100^o C; and

(b) a health certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the country of origin certifying that the tinned products -

(i) have been prepared in an establishment approved for export purposes;

(ii) have been prepared from the meat of animals slaughtered at an export approved abattoir, and which have been inspected before and after slaughter and found to be healthy;

(iii) comply with the regulations in force in the country of origin for the protection of consumers' health;

(iv) form part of the batches which have been subjected to bacteriological examination of 2 per cent of the tins showing negative results.

Such certificate shall mention the authorisation number of the establishment which has manufactured the tinned goods, also all necessary means of identification of those products.

DOCUMENTS TO ACCOMPANY IMPORTED POULTRY

52. Chilled or frozen poultry (whether whole or in pieces) imported from countries whose names appear on the list at Schedule 8, shall be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the country of origin certifying that the poultry -
    
    • (a) has been inspected before and after slaughter and found to be healthy;
      

(b) has been slaughtered at an export approved abattoir;

(c) has been packed in packages to which the veterinary inspection seal has been affixed at the slaughter house of origin.

The certificates shall mention all marks of identification of the poultry, particularly the characteristics of the veterinary inspection seal and the authorisation number of the slaughter house.

DOCUMENTS TO ACCOMPANY POULTRY-BASED PRODUCTS

53. Poultry-based products imported from countries whose names appear on the list at Schedule 8 shall be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the country of origin certifying that these products have been prepared -
    

(a) at an establishment approved for export purposes;

(b) from poultry slaughtered at an export approved abattoir and which have been inspected before and after slaughter and found to be healthy;

(c) in accordance with the regulations in force in the country of origin for the protection of consumers' health.

The certificate shall mention the authorisation number of the establishment where the products were prepared and all necessary means of identification of those products.

DOCUMENTS TO ACCOMPANY IMPORTS OF TINNED POULTRY

54. Tinned poultry may be imported from all countries provided that all such tinned poultry has been subjected to heat treatment inside an air- and water-tight container and is accompanied -
    

(a) by a declaration from the manufacturer indicating -

(i) the temperature at which sterilization was effected and the period for which heat treatment was maintained;

(ii) that during the manufacturing process the entire contents of the tins were heated to more than 100^o C;

(b) a health certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the country of origin certifying that the tinned goods -

(i) have been prepared in an establishment approved for export purposes;

(ii) have been prepared from poultry slaughtered at an export approved abattoir and which have been inspected before and after slaughter and found to be healthy;

(iii) comply with the regulations enforced in the country of origin for the protection of consumers' health;

(iv) form part of the batches which have been subjected to bacteriological examinations affecting 2 per cent of the tins with negative results.

Such certificate shall mention the authorisation number of the establishment where the tinned goods were manufactured and all means of identification of those products.

IMPORT OF EGGS

55. Eggs in their shell intended for human consumption may be imported from any country provided that such eggs are -
    

(a) presented in packaging indicating legibly -

(i) the country of origin which shall be printed in letters at least 20 mm high in the case of large packages and in letters at least 5 mm high in the case of small packages;

(ii) the name of the packing company in the country of origin;

(iii) the quality and weight categories of the eggs;

(iv) the total weight in grams or kilograms of the packed eggs and the number of eggs contained in each package;

(v) the date of packing;

(v) the name and the address of the consignee in the case of large packages; and

(b) accompanied by an official certificate -

(i) justifying the classification of the eggs in the quality category to which they belong;

(ii) indicating whether the eggs;

(a) have or have not been cleaned by a damp or a dry method;

(b) have or have not been chilled or conserved or refrigerated (temperature of premises less than 8' C) or preserved (indicating in this case the method of preservation.)

IMPORT OF STERILISED MILK

56. Milk sterilised by heat may be imported from any country on condition it is packed aseptically, and accompanied by a certificate issued by the official organisation for the control of dairy produce in the country of origin certifying that such milk contains neither pathogenic or toxogenic germs nor micro-organisms capable of proliferating in such milk.
    

IMPORT OF TINNED MILK

57. Tinned milk (dry milk and concentrated milk) may be imported from any country on condition it is accompanied by a certificate issued by the official organisation for the control of dairy produce in the country of origin certifying that such milk contains neither pathogenic nor toxogenic germs.
    

IMPORT OF FERMENTED MILK

58. Fermented milk may be imported from any country on condition that it is accompanied by a certificate issued by the official organisation for the control in the country of origin certifying that such milk has been prepared from milk which has been sterilized.
    

Such foodstuff must be prepared in carefully sealed containers indicating the following -

"store in a cool place"

"consume by ................"

IMPORT OF CREAM

59. (1) Cream may be imported from any country on condition it is accompanied by a certificate issued by the official Organisation for the control of dairy produce in the country of origin certifying -
    

(a) that it has undergone pasteurization or sterilization before export;

(b) that it has been found free of pathogenic germs and has been subjected to the phosphatosis test made on a sample taken at the factory with negative results.

(2) Cream must be presented in containers in which it can be sold retail and which must be closed and sealed and indicate as follows -

"store in a cool place"

"consume by ............."

IMPORT OF BUTTER

60. Butter may be imported from any country on condition it is accompanied by a certificate issued by the official Organisation for the control of dairy produce in the country of origin certifying -
    

(a) that it has been pasteurized;

(b) that it contains less than 10 coliforms per gram; and

(c) that it has been subjected to the phosphatosis test at the factory with negative result.

IMPORT OF CHEESE

61. Cheese may be imported from any country on condition it is accompanied by a certificate issued by the official Organisation for the control of dairy produce in the country of origin certifying -
    

(a) that the manufacturing processes used have been sufficient to destroy any virus, notably the virus of foot and mouth disease and rinderpest, and that, during the manufacture of cheeses which have not been subjected to sufficient heat treatment, the PH of the curd has been reduced to less than 6;

(b) that the cheese has been manufactured from milk from an area which is free of foot and mouth disease and rinderpest;

(c) that the cheese has been stored for at least 3 months after manufacture, and that during that period no case of foot and mouth disease or of rinderpest has been declared in the region from which the milk used in the manufacture of the cheese came.

IMPORT OF WOOL ETC.

62. The import of wool, bristle and animal hair from any country shall be authorised if such goods are accompanied by a certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the country of origin certifying -
    

(a) that they have been treated with disinfectant in an establishment approved for this purpose by the appropriate authority in the country of origin;

(b) that they have been dyed.

IMPORTS OF MEAT MEAL ETC.

63. The importation from any country of meat meal, powdered blood, bonemeal and animal feed containing such products shall be authorised, if such goods are accompanied by a certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the country of origin certifying -
    

(a) that such goods have been subjected to steam heating in a watertight container for a period of at least I hour at a minimum temperature of 120^o C or to dry heat treatment at a minimum temperature of 110^o C for a period of at least 4 hours;

(b) that they contain no pathogenic germs; and

(c) that they have been placed in new containers or containers which have been sterilized prior to filling and come from a factory equipped in such a way that all possibility of contamination of these products is excluded.

IMPORTS OF ANIMAL-BASED FERTILISERS

64. The importation from any country of fertilisers based on blood, meat, bones, horns or hooves may be authorised if such goods are accompanied by a certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the country of origin certifying -
    

(a) that they have been subjected to steam heat inside a watertight container for a period of at least 1 hour at a minimum temperature of 120^o C or to dry heat at a minimum temperature of 110^o C for a period of 4 hours;

(b) that they contain no pathogenic germs;

(c) that they have been placed inside new containers or containers which have been sterilized prior to filling and come from a factory equipped in such a way that all possibility of contamination of such product is excluded.

IMPORT OF LEATHER AND SKINS

65. (1) Leather and skins imported from any country which have undergone a complete tanning process shall be subjected to an inspection for the purpose of ensuring that they have been completely tanned.
    

(2) The importation of leather and salted skins from Australia and New Zealand may be authorised on condition that they are accompanied -

(a) by a statement from the exporter indicating that such leather and skin -

(i) comes from animals slaughtered at an abattoir approved by the competent authorities of the country of origin;

(ii) have been dry salted or soaked in brine for a period of at least 30 days; and

(b) by an attestation from the officials of the veterinary department of the country of origin certifying -

(i) that there is no reason to doubt the truth of the terms of the exporter's statement;

(ii) that the leather and skins come from animals known to be healthy before and after slaughter and coming from a region free from anthrax.

PART VII
MOVEMENTS OF ANIMALS WITHIN VANUATU

PROHIBITION OF MOVEMENT OF AND MOVEMENT PERMITS FOR ANIMALS

66. (1) The Minister may by Order -

(a) prohibit the movement of any species, breed, type or class of animals for any given period of time;

(b) specify such species, breed, type or class of animals the movement of which shall be subject to the prior possession of a movement permit;

(c) specify such conditions as shall apply to movement permits in general or in particular, and may prescribe fees for such permits and may create penalties for non-performance of such conditions.

(2) In this Part, "movement" in relation to animals means movement of animals from place to place within Vanuatu, whether from one island to another or within the same island and "movement permit" shall be construed accordingly.

APPLICATION FOR MOVEMENT PERMIT

67. A person applying to the livestock service for a movement permit shall do so not less than 10 days before the intended date of movement of the animals, or within such greater time limit as the Minister may by Order prescribe, specifying -
    
    • (a) the species, sex and number of animals to be moved;
      

(b) the place of origin and the intended destination;

(c) the date of the movement and means of transport;

(d) dates, places and times of loading and unloading if the movements are to be made between different islands;

(e) such other particulars as the Minister may by Order prescribe.

VETERINARY INSPECTION

68. Upon receipt of an application the person responsible for issuing a movement permit shall decide whether or not it will be necessary for the animals to undergo a veterinary inspection to ensure that they are in good health and free from acaracide.
    

FURTHER INSPECTIONS IN CERTAIN AREAS

69. In certain areas or places designated by Order made by the Minister, the person responsible for issuing a movement permit may, before a permit is granted, require the animals to be subjected to a series of tests for brucellosis, tuberculosis and other diseases. In such case, the examinations and tests must be carried out on the holding of the owner or the person in charge of the animal. The person responsible for issuing a movement permit shall keep a copy of each permit granted by him.
    

REFUSAL OF CERTIFICATE

70. If a veterinary officer or an officer of the livestock service refuses to issue a movement permit he shall immediately inform the principal veterinary officer and take all measures necessary for the safeguard of animal health.
    

PERMIT TO BE RETAINED AND PRODUCED ON DEMAND

71. At the time of movement of animals subject to a movement permit, the owner or person in charge of the animals, the person in charge of carrying the animals, and the person finally receiving the animals shall retain the movement permit or a copy thereof relating to the animals, and shall on demand produce it to a veterinary officer, veterinary inspector or stock inspector. The "person in charge of carrying the animals" means, in the case of a sea vessel, the master thereof, in the case of a motor vehicle the driver thereof, and in any other case, the person having for the time being immediate control over the actual movement of the animals.
    

PART VIII
ANIMAL HEALTH INSPECTION AND DISEASE CONTROL

HEALTH INSPECTIONS

72. Veterinary inspectors may at any time and in any part of Vanuatu carry out any health inspection they may consider necessary. For this purpose they may enter any private property, visit any buildings or installation intended for the use of animals and carry out any test, take biological examples and make such examination as they may consider necessary.
    

AGREEMENT WITH OWNER OF ANIMALS

73. When a veterinary officer decides to carry out a health inspection he shall notify the owner or the person in charge of the animals. He shall then by agreement with that person fix the day and time of the inspection and the manner thereof. This agreement shall be confirmed in writing. The owner or the person in charge of the animals shall ensure that the necessary physical conditions exist for that health inspection. The date of the inspection may not vary from the date fixed by the veterinary inspector by more than 2 weeks.
    

INSPECTION IN CASES OF EMERGENCY

74. In the case of serious danger of an epidemic, the Minister may authorise a veterinary inspector to enter any property or part thereof, inspect any buildings or installations used or intended for use by animals and carry out any necessary examinations without obtaining permission to do so from the owner or the person in charge of the animal.
    

DUTIES OF OWNER

75. Any owner or person in charge of any animals required to undergo a health inspection shall -
    

(a) produce such animals individually or collectively to the veterinary inspector within a properly constructed stockyard with suitable handling facilities completely fenced off;

(b) provide the veterinary inspector with all means necessary for the health inspection of the animal;

(c) ensure that such animal can be identified.

LOSS OR INJURY TO ANIMAL

76. The veterinary inspector shall not be liable for any loss or injury caused to the animals during the health inspection.
    

SLAUGHTER OF INFECTED ANIMALS

77. If the veterinary inspector finds that an animal is suffering from a contagious disease he shall take any health measures necessary and in particular may direct that the animal be slaughtered.
    

QUARANTINE OF PROPERTY

78. Without prejudice to any action that he may take under any other provisions of this Act, a veterinary inspector may place any property where it has been impossible to carry out health inspection for any reason in quarantine. Such decision, which shall take immediate effect, shall be published and broadcast wherever necessary. It shall have the effect of prohibiting the removal of any animal alive or dead from such property to whatever destination.
    

DISEASED ETC., ANIMALS TO BE REPORTED

79. Any person owning or having charge of any animal which is suspected to be suffering from a contagious disease shall inform a veterinary inspector thereof as soon as possible. The death of an animal without obvious cause shall be reported immediately to any officer of the livestock service who shall inform the principal veterinary officer thereof.
    

PART IX
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

PENALTY FOR UNLAWFUL IMPORT OF ANIMALS

80. Any person who imports any animal into Vanuatu in contravention of the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of an offence punishable upon conviction by a fine not exceeding VT100,000 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or by both such fine and imprisonment. In the case of a second or subsequent offence the said term of imprisonment may be doubled.
    

PENALTY FOR OTHER BREACHES OF THIS ACT

81. Any person who commits any other breach of this Act or hinders any public officer in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by this Act shall be guilty of an offence punishable upon conviction by a fine not exceeding VT50,000 or to a period of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months or to both such fine and imprisonment. In the case of second or subsequent offences the said penalties may be doubled.
    

REGULATIONS

82. (1) The Minister may by Order make regulations necessary for the better implementation of the Act.
    

(2) The Minister may by Order -

(a) appoint veterinary inspectors and stock inspectors for the purpose of this Act;

(b) prescribe ports at which imported animals may be exclusively landed;

(c) prescribe quarantine stations;

(d) prescribe any dues and fees payable under this Act.

REPORT ON INFRINGEMENT

83. The persons mentioned in section 82(2)(a) and appointed for that purpose shall report any infringement of this Act.
    

______________________

SCHEDULE 1

(sections 3, 41)

Countries free from rabies and boophilus microplus -

Finland, Mauritius, Norway, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sweden, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

_________________________

SCHEDULE 2

(sections 4, 6, 20, 42)

Countries free of foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, blue tongue, contagious bovine pleuro pneumonia, boophilus microplus, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, heart water, theileriosis -

Norway, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

SCHEDULE 3

(sections 5, 11, 43)

Countries free of foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, blue tongue, boophilus microplus, babesiosis, theileriosis and scrapie -

Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

_____________________________

SCHEDULE 4

(sections 7, 12, 15, 44, 49, 50)

Countries free from foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, swine fever, vesicular disease -

Australia, Norway, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

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SCHEDULE 5

(sections 8, 45)

Countries free from African horse sickness, equine encepha lomyelitis, glanders, dourine, equine infectious anaemia, vesicular stomatitis, boophilus microplus -

New Zealand, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

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SCHEDULE 6

(sections 10, 46)

Countries free from foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, blue tongue, ephemeral fever -

Norway, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

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SCHEDULE 7

(sections 14, 17, 47, 48)

Countries free of foot and mouth disease and rinderpest -

Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, United States of America, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, New Caledonia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

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SCHEDULE 8

(sections 16, 52, 53)

Countries free from fowl plague and newcastle disease -

Norway, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Australia.

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