Intra-EU trade in bovine animals and swine

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 64/432/EEC on animal health problems affecting intra-EU trade in bovine animals and swine

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

• It sets out rules for trade within the European Union (EU) of bovine* animals or swine* for breeding, milk or meat production, slaughter or exhibition.
• It does not cover animals used for sporting or cultural events.

KEY POINTS

• The transport to another EU country of animals covered by the directive is only authorised if the animals:
  • do not show signs of disease;
  • have not been obtained from a prohibited or restricted source under EU or national law;
  • are officially identified, in accordance with EU directives and regulations;
  • are accompanied by a health certificate during transport;
  • come from a herd officially free of tuberculosis, brucellosis or enzootic bovine leukosis (applies only to bovine animals);
  • do not come into contact with animals of a lower health status during transport.
• Vehicles used to transport animals should respect their well-being and must:
  • be constructed so that animal waste, litter or feed does not leak from the vehicle;
  • be cleaned and disinfected after use and, if necessary, before any new loading of animals, using approved methods;
  • carry a record of location, including date and time of the movement of animals, details of animals transported, and vehicle cleaning and disinfection information, to be retained for at least 3 years.
• Animals for slaughter must be slaughtered within 72 hours if transported directly to an abattoir, or 3 working days if they arrive via an approved assembly centre.
• The suspected presence of any relevant diseases on the holding has to be notified to the competent authority.
• Health certificates have to be drawn up by the official vet after inspection.
• All dealers, their premises and holdings, must be registered and approved, and EU countries must introduce a system of surveillance, with penalties in order to ensure compliance.

Repeal

Directive 64/432/EEC will be repealed by Regulation (EU) 2016/429 from 21 April 2021.

FROM WHEN DOES IT APPLY?

It had to be incorporated into the national law of the original 6 European Economic Community (now EU) countries by 30 June 1965.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

• ‘Bovine animals — Trade — Before and during dispatch’ on the European Commission's website.
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466 of 30 March 2020 on temporary measures to contain risks to human, animal and plant health and animal welfare during certain serious disruptions of Member States’ control systems due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

* KEY TERMS

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine (English special edition: Series I Volume 1963-1964, pp. 164-184)

Successive amendments to Directive 64/432/EEC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED ACTS

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, pp. 1–208)

last update 04.05.2020