Trade with pigs with other countries in the EU
There are specific rules that you must follow when trading in pigs or with semen, ova and embryos from pigs. These rules apply to all EU Member States as well as Norway, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino. Please note that the United Kingdom is now counted as a country outside the EU.
Pigs include, for example, domestic pigs, mini-pigs and wild boar.
Bringing in pigs from other countries within the EU
The establishment must be registered
If pigs are to be moved to your establishment from another EU Member State or from Norway, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino, it is important that your establishment has been registered in good time (at least 4 weeks) 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
The EU common health certificate, which must be used for any movement of animals within the EU, certifies that the animals do not carry very serious diseases or diseases that affect different EU regions to variable degrees. It is the responsibility of the official veterinarian in the country of dispatch to ensure that the animals comply with the requirements of the certificate.
- There is a certificate for breeding animals: POR-INTRA-X .
- There is a certificate for animals for direct slaughter: POR-INTRA-Y.
The animals must meet the requirements of the national salmonella programme as well as the national PRRS rules which apply when you move new pigs into your establishment. If the animals you accept do not have the required status, they must be isolated and tested according to the rules.
National control programme for salmonella
In accordance with the programme, pigs 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 on the receiving establishment. Contact us for more information.
National rules to prevent the spread of PRRS
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, is free of PRRS. Swedish pig holdings are generally considered free of PRRS. This is true on the condition that any pigs that are brought in from other countries have been taken into the establishment in an epidemiologically safe manner, meaning that they have been introduced in accordance with the national rules.
Animals coming from establishments which are not free of PRRS need to be tested in an isolation facility which must first be approved by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
More information about the national rules and the criteria for a documented good status concerning isolation for PRRS can be found on the page for diseases, hygiene rules and antibiotic resistance in pigs, as well as in the regulations (SJVFS 2021:24).
It is important that you follow the rules on isolation and testing of animals if you bring in animals from other countries where PRRS is present, as the disease has detrimental impacts on animal health as well as on production. Testing for PRRS and salmonella (in cases where such testing must be carried out) may be advantageously coordinated, where in both cases the animals are to be kept in isolation.
If you have any questions about PRRS, contact us:
Marking and reporting
The animals must be marked with an ID marking which is approved in the country from which the animals are coming.
Pigs that have been brought into Sweden must be reported to the movement registry for pigs at the latest 20 days after they have arrived at the first Swedish establishment (previously called the production facility).
Plan the transport carefully
There may be areas with restrictions on the transport of pigs, due to infectious animal diseases. There may be special rules for the transport of pigs 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 pigs 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.
Bringing pigs to other countries within the EU
The establishment must be registered
If pigs are to be moved from your establishment to another EU Member State or to Norway, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino, it is important that your establishment has been registered for at least 4 weeks before the pigs 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.
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.
There is a certificate for breeding animals: POR-INTRA-X
There is a certificate for animals for direct slaughter: POR-INTRA-Y
The animals must have been in the dispatching establishment for at least 30 days before they can be sent to another EU Member State. The official veterinarian must certify that this is the case in the certificate. If the animals have not been in isolation, no new animals may have been added to the herd for that period.
For animals that are to be used for breeding, a zootechnical certificate must also be provided, if you want to enter them in the 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.
The organizer must also create a copy of the journey log in Traces. The official veterinarian must link to the journey log in Traces in the health certificate. You can read more about the journey log on our animal transport page.
Marking
The animals must be correctly marked for identification and the transport must be registered with the central pig registry.
Assembly centre
If you are sending animals from multiple herds to another country, you may need to assemble the animals. Assembly may take place via an approved assembly centre, or en route according to special rules. You must seek an approval from the Swedish Board of Agriculture, both for an assembly centre and for assembly en route. At present, there is no approved assembly centre for pigs in Sweden.
Plan the transport carefully
There may be areas with restrictions on the transport of pigs, due to infectious animal diseases. There may be special rules for the transport of pigs 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.
Bringing in semen from pigs from other EU countries
You may buy semen, ova and embryos from pigs from countries within the EU, Norway, 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 embryos from pigs to other EU 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.
