Trade with cattle with other EU countries
There are specific rules that you must follow when trading in cattle or with semen, ova and embryos from cattle.
New deforestation rules also apply to cattle
The new deforestation regulations, effective from December 30, 2026, may have an effect on your plans when exporting cattle to countries outside Sweden. These rules may also impact those who buy and sell cattle.
If you have questions, please contact the Swedish Forest Agency (Skogsstyrelsen).
Bringing in cattle from EU Member States
The establishment must be registered
Any establishment that keeps cattle must be registered. If cattle are to be moved to the establishment from another EU Member State or from Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino, it is important that the establishment has been registered in good time before the animals are due to move.
This is because the Swedish Board of Agriculture must enter the information about the establishment in the EU-wide computer system Traces, which is used in connection with the transport of animals.
You must be registered to bring in animals
In order for you to be permitted to bring in animals to Sweden, you must be registered for import with the Swedish Board of Agriculture. You have to register in our e-service at least 30 business days before the expected date of the first occasion of import.
The registration is valid for 2 years from the date on which you are registered. Registration costs SEK 150.
Health certificates and diseases
When moving within the EU, cattle must meet the requirements of the EU Commission's animal health certificate. The certificate shows that the animals are not carrying very serious diseases or diseases that are present in the EU to varying degrees. The certificate must be issued by an official veterinarian in the country of dispatch during the last 24 hours before departure from the country of dispatch. A digitally signed animal health certificate does not need to be printed.
Cattle intended for breeding must have remained in the same herd in the country of dispatch for at least 30 days before being sent to Sweden, or since birth. During this time, the cattle must not come into contact with animals of lower health status or with animals that have been imported from a country outside the EU in the last 30 days.
There is an animal health certificate for breeding animals: BOV-INTRA-X
There is an animal health certificate for animals directly for slaughter: BOV-INTRA-Y
National control programme for salmonella
In accordance with the programme, cattle are to be examined for salmonella before they can be introduced to the recipient herd if they are brought in from a country which does not have a salmonella control programme which has been approved by the European Commission and which is equivalent to the Swedish salmonella control programme. Such examination should be carried out in an isolation facility at the receiving establishment. Contact us for more information.
National rules to prevent the spread of paratuberculosis
The national rules apply whether you bring animals from Swedish establishments or from establishments in other countries, but these are not entry requirements; they apply after the animals have entered Sweden, if they are animals from abroad.
The requirements differ depending on whether or not the establishment, from which the animals are coming, has a documented good status concerning paratuberculosis. Swedish establishments are considered to have a documented good status, provided that new animals are introduced in an epidemiologically safe manner. Animals that come from establishments which do not have a documented good status shall be isolated and tested, and must also be subject to follow-up testing in accordance with the requirements of the regulations.
More information about the national rules and criteria for a documented good status concerning paratuberculosis can be found on the page about diseases, hygiene rules and antibiotic resistance in cattle and in the regulations (SJVFS 2021:23). Contact us for more information.
The animals must have bovine identification documents
Cattle that are coming from another EU Member State, Norway, Andorra, the Faroe Islands or Switzerland must be accompanied by identification documents. Previously, this was referred to as a cattle passport.
When the cattle have arrived at the recipient herd, you must send these identification documents to our animal registry unit in Söderhamn.
Postal address:
Jordbruksverket
826 84 Söderhamn
Plan the transport carefully
There may be areas with restrictions on the transport of cattle, due to infectious animal diseases. There may be special rules for the transport of cattle in such areas. You must ensure that you know in advance about these areas, so that the animals are not stopped somewhere along the way.
Registering the transporter for the movement of animals between countries
If you are transporting animals to or from Sweden, you must be registered as a transporter. You register as a transporter using our e-service. Please note that a registration as a transporter is not the same as the transporter’s permit required to transport animals as part of your business activities.
Bring the animals via a customs post
When you bring in cattle from EU Member States, Norway, Andorra, Switzerland or the Faroe Islands, the animals may enter only via a customs post. When the animals pass the border, you must notify the customs post in question of the import. Our recommendation is that you notify the customs post well in advance that the transport is on its way, and let them know when the transport is expected to arrive at the border.
Marking and reporting
The animals must be marked with an ID marking which is approved in the country from which the animals are coming.
Upon arrival at the receiving herd in Sweden, the animals must be additionally marked with Swedish ear tags. Previously, there was a requirement that this was done by a veterinarian, but you may now do this yourself.
Cattle which have been brought into Sweden must be reported to the central cattle registry at the latest 20 days after the animals have been tagged with Swedish ear tags.
Moving cattle into other countries
The establishment must be registered
Any establishment where there are cattle must be registered. If cattle are to be moved from the establishment to another EU Member State it is important that the establishment has been registered well in advance of the transport.
This is because the Swedish Board of Agriculture must enter the information about the establishment in the EU-wide computer system Traces, which is used in connection with the transport of animals.
Registering the transporter for the movement of animals between countries
If you are transporting animals to or from Sweden, you must be registered as a transporter. You register as a transporter using our e-service. Please note that a registration as a transporter is not the same as the transporter’s permit required to transport animals as part of your business activities.
Plan the transport carefully
There may be areas with restrictions on the transport of cattle, due to infectious animal diseases. There may be special rules for the transport of cattle in such areas. You must ensure that you know in advance about these areas, so that the animals are not stopped somewhere along the way.
Health certificates
You must have contacted an official veterinarian in good time, who shall examine the animals and issue a health certificate within 24 hours prior to departure. The veterinarian must also be able to certify that the animals meet all the requirements of the health certificate. Digitally signed animal health certificates do not need to be printed.
Cattle intended for breeding must have remained in the same herd in Sweden for at least 30 days before being sent to another country, or since birth. During this time, the cattle must not come into contact with animals of lower health status or with animals that have been imported from a country outside the EU in the last 30 days. In this case, the countries in the heading are not counted as countries outside the EU.
There is an animal health certificate for breeding animals: BOV-INTRA-X
There is an animal health certificate for animals direct for slaughter: BOV-INTRA-Y
The health certificate for breeding is to be used for all animals that are not intended for immediate slaughter. This also applies to any animals that may be castrated.
For animals that are to be used for breeding, a lineage certificate must be provided if you want to have animals enrolled in studbook.
Travel plan
The animals must be accompanied by a travel plan during any transport which exceeds 8 hours. This travel plan is to be prepared by the official veterinarian, approved by the Swedish Board of Agriculture, and must accompany the animals.
Marking
The animals must be correctly marked for identification and the transport must be registered with the central cattle registry.
Identification documents
The animals must have bovine identification documents. Previously, this was referred to as a cattle passport. We issue these documents once you have notified us that you are bringing the animals out of Sweden. They must be available to the official veterinarian at the latest at the time of certification.
An application for identification documents must have been received by the Swedish Board of Agriculture at the latest 7 days before the animals are transported to another EU Member State. You must pay a fee of 150 SEK to the Swedish Board of Agriculture for each identification document issued.
Assembly centre
If you are sending animals from multiple herds to another country, you may need to assemble the animals on one place. Assembly may take place via an approved assembly centre, or on the assembly transporting vehicle according to special rules. You must seek an approval from the Swedish Board of Agriculture, both for an assembly centre and for assembly transporting vehicle.
Bringing in semen, ova and embryos from cattle from other countries
You may buy semen, ova and embryos from cattle from EU Member States, Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino.
Your establishment must be approved for intra-EU trade with semen, ova and embryos.
You need a permit working with semen, ova and embryos
In order to trade with semen, ova and embryos, you must have a permit for activities involving breeding material.
The semen, ova, and embryos must have been stored in an approved collection centre or approved storage centre before being imported into Sweden.
Health certificates and zootechnical certificates
The consignment has to be accompanied by an official health certificate in the original. The health certificate must be issued by an official veterinarian in the country from which the animal is coming no earlier than 24 hours before loading.
If you import semen and want to enroll offspring in the studbook, a zoothechnical certificate must also accompany the semen.
Your establishment must be approved for intra-EU trade with semen, ova and embryos.
Bringing semen, ova and embryo from cattle to other countries
Your establishment must be approved for intra-EU trade with semen, ova and embryos.
You need a permit working with semen, ova and embryos
In order to trade with semen, ova and embryos, you must have a permit for activities involving breeding material.
Contact us for more information
This page provides an overview of the rules that apply. You are welcome to contact us for more information.
Revision date: 2026-02-12