Trade with sheep and goats between countries
There are specific rules that you must follow when trading in sheep and goats or with semen, ova and embryos from sheep and goats. The rules differ depending on whether you are trading with EU Member States or countries outside the EU. Additionally, the rules for bringing animals into Sweden and moving them out of Sweden, respectively, are different.
Sheep are defined as all sheep in the genus Ovis, for example all breeds of sheep as well as mouflon and other wild sheep. Goats are defined as all goats in the genus Capra.
Bringing in sheep and goats from other countries
Sheep and goats from EU Member States or from Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino
These rules apply to all EU Member States as well as EU Member State or to Norway, Iceland, 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.
Contact us for more information
This page provides an overview of the rules that apply. We will shortly be publishing an information sheet with more detail. Until then, you are welcome to contact us for more information.
The establishment must be registered
Any establishment where there are sheep and goats must be registered. If sheep and goats are to be moved from the establishment to 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
The EU common health certificate, which must be used for any movement of animals within the EU, certifies that the animals do not carry 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.
Sweden continues to have a very good status concerning the disease scrapie within the EU. Check that the herd selling the animals fulfils the guarantees for this disease. To do so, please contact the competent authority of the country of dispatch, which can verify that the herd is on an official register for herds with negligible risk. A certificate from the register shall accompany the animals.
Sheep with the ARR/ARR genotype may be brought in from countries with a lower scrapie status as they are considered resistant to the disease.
Compliance with the requirements concerning scrapie may be difficult to verify. If in doubt about the scrapie status of the country or herd, contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
At present, only Finland and Austria have the same status for the whole country.
Marking and reporting
The animals must be marked with an ID marking which is approved in the country from which the animals are coming.
Sheep and goats that have been brought into Sweden must be reported to the movement registry for sheep and goats at the latest 7 days after they have arrived at the first Swedish establishment.
Plan the transport carefully
There may be areas with restrictions on the transport of sheep and goats, due to infectious animal diseases. There may be special rules for the transport of sheep and goats 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 sheep and goats from EU Member State or from Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino, 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.
Sheep and goats from countries outside the EU
The EU only allows imports of sheep and goats from a small number of countries outside the EU. Sweden’s status concerning the disease scrapie further limits the possibilities. Contact our disease control unit to find out which countries are approved.
Contact us for more information
This page provides an overview of the rules that apply. We will shortly be publishing an information sheet with more detail. Until then, you are welcome to contact us for more information.
The establishment must be registered
Any establishment where there are sheep and goats must be registered. If sheep and goats are to be received at the establishment from countries outside the EU, it is important that the establishment is registered in good time before the animals are received.
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 to 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.
Generally, it is difficult for a country outside the EU to certify that it meets the Swedish requirements concerning the disease scrapie. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture for more information.
Sheep with the ARR/ARR genotype may be brought in from countries with a lower scrapie status as they are considered resistant to the disease.
At present, only Finland and Austria have the same status for the whole country.
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.
Sheep and goats that have been brought into Sweden from a country outside the EU must be reported to the movement registry for sheep and goats at the latest 7 days after they have arrived at the first Swedish establishment.
Plan the transport carefully
There may be areas with restrictions on the transport of sheep and goats, due to infectious animal diseases. There may be special rules for the transport of sheep and goats 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 in via an approved border control station
Animals from approved countries outside the EU, except for Norway, Andorra, the Faroe Islands and Switzerland, may only be brought in via an approved border control station.
When you bring in animals, you must notify the border control veterinarian at least one working day in advance of arrival to the border control post. You must also report the animals to the border control post in the Trace system via a CHED (Common Health Entry Document). The person who creates the CHED can be a private person, a company importing the animals, or a company in charge of organisation of shipping.
There is currently no border control station in Sweden that is approved to receive cattle. Therefore, you must bring the animals in via an approved border control station in another country. The transport will then be handled as an import from another EU country.
If the import takes place via another EU country, it must be reported to the border control post where the animals enter the EU.
When the animals cross the border into Sweden, you must report the entry to customs.
If the import takes place via another EU Member State, a notification must be made to the border control post where the animals will enter the EU.
When the animals pass the border into Sweden, you must register the import with the Swedish Customs.
Bring the animals in via a customs post
When the animals pass the border into Sweden, you must also register the import to the customs. Our recommendation is that you notify the customs post well in advance that the transport is on its way, and let them know when it is expected to arrive at the border.
Bringing sheep and goats to other countries
Sheep and goats to EU Member States or to Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino
Please note that the United Kingdom is now a country outside the EU.
Contact us for more information
This page provides an overview of the rules that apply. We will shortly be publishing an information sheet with more detail. Until then, you are welcome to contact us for more information.
The establishment must be registered
Any establishment where there are sheep and goats must be registered. If sheep and goats are to be moved from the establishment to another EU Member State or to 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.
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. The animals must be accompanied by the original on paper. The health certificate is also sent electronically between countries through the EU's common Traces database.
There are two health certificates that are used for sheep and goats: for breeding, or direct to slaughter. 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.
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.
Rams must have been tested for Brucella ovis with negative test results at the earliest 30 days before export.
For animals that are to be used for breeding, a zootechnical certificate must also be provided.
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 sheep and goat registry. When moving to other EU Member States, sheep and goats must have at least one electronic ear tag. If you do not have an electronic ear tag, you need to order it and tag the animal with it. If the animal already has two conventional ear tags, you shall replace one with an electronic ear tag.
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 sheep and goats in Sweden.
Plan the transport carefully
There may be areas with restrictions on the transport of sheep and goats, due to infectious animal diseases. There may be special rules for the transport of sheep and goats 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.
Sheep and goats to countries outside the EU
You can read here about what applies when you are going to export sheep and goats to countries outside the EU.
If the animals are going to Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino, the same rules apply as when moving animals to another EU Member State. Read more under the heading Sheep and goats to EU Member State or to Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino.
Find out what the rules are in the destination country
In order to export or bring animals to a country outside the EU (other than Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino), you need to find out which requirements apply in the destination country. Contact the embassy or the veterinary authorities of the destination country well in advance in order to find out:
- Whether it is possible to travel with the animals or export them to the destination country
- Which rules apply in the country to which the animals are travelling
- Whether you need to apply for anything in particular, e.g. an import licence
- Whether the animals must be quarantined or vaccinated before being transported
- Which health certificates are required, or which requirements must be met
- Whether any particular permit is required
Obtain a health certificate
Contact an official veterinarian well in advance to ascertain whether there is any negotiated health certificate which is valid in the country to which you are travelling or selling your animals. If there is a negotiated certificate it should be used.
If there is no negotiated certificate, you should contact the authorities in the destination country and find out which certificates they accept or what requirements must be met. If they only accept their own country's certificate, make sure your official veterinarian gets it well in advance. Never use a previously saved certificate without checking with the receiving country that the certificate is still valid and it is the latest version.
If you have only been informed about the requirements that must be met in order to be allowed to export to the country, it is you as the exporter who must write the certificate and insert the current requirements, as well as verify in writing with the recipient country that the final version is approved.
You must then give the information and the certificate to your official veterinarian in writing well in advance of the planned export.
The Swedish Board of Agriculture’s logo must not be used for a non-negotiated certificate.
The official veterinarian can always refuse to sign a health certificate if the requirements of the certificate are not met or if it is written in a language that the official veterinarian does not understand.
Please note that when a non-negotiated or general certificate is used, the export takes place at the exporter's own risk. Neither the Swedish Board of Agriculture nor the official veterinarian can provide any guarantees that the certificate will be accepted.
If applicable, submit an export application
If your export of animals must be negotiated with the authorities in the destination countries, you should submit an export application using our e-service. Once the export application has been received, negotiations with the destination country will be managed by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Keep in mind that negotiations may take a long time (usually several years) to complete. It is not a solution for a one-time export.
The export application is primarily aimed at those who intend to export large quantities and frequently. Note that received export applications are prioritized by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Find out if there are any export restrictions
Before you travel with animals or export them to countries outside the EU, you need to find out if any export restrictions apply due to contagious animal diseases.
Find out what rules apply for the transport
It is also important that you find out what rules and requirements apply to the transport.
Submit a customs declaration
If you sell animals to a country outside the EU, you must submit an electronic customs declaration to the Swedish Customs.
If the animals are returning to Sweden later
If you are bringing back animals that you have previously travelled with or exported to a country outside the EU, you need to find out what rules apply.
Contact us if you have questions
You are welcome to send us an e-mail if you have any questions.
New rules for bringing animals or animal products to the United Kingdom
Here, you can find out what rules apply when you are bringing animals or animal products to the United Kingdom, but you must also read the general rules that apply when exporting to countries outside the EU.
As of 1 January 2021, new rules apply to trade with the United Kingdom. The ministry responsible for these rules is the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). If you have any questions, please contact them.
The rules are described in the guide Border Operating Model.
The UK is implementing the new rules in several phases throughout 2021 and 2022. The conditions for exports to the United Kingdom may change, and it is therefore important that anyone carrying out exports stays up-to-date via the DEFRA’s website.
What you need to do as an exporter
Companies that are exporting to the UK need to, among other things:
- In collaboration with the importer, find out which certificates should accompany the consignment.
- Ensure that you have access to the web-based system Traces in order to record the details required for the certificate.
- Check that the dispatching establishment is registered or approved, and that the transporter meets applicable requirements.
- If the transport to the UK will pass through other EU Member States, you must also check what applies when exporting to other EU Member States.
- Contact an official veterinarian in good time!
Health certificates and pre-registration
The importer to the UK should pre-register live animals, breeding materials and products from animals from the EU with the UK system Import of Products, Animals, Feed and Food Systems (IPAFFS). This must be done at the latest one business day prior to the expected arrival. A health certificate must always accompany the consignment. Physical controls may be carried out.
The health certificate has been developed by UK authorities and is available in the EU computer system Traces or on DEFRA’s website. It is your responsibility as an exporter to find out which certificate must be used, and for that reason it is important that you, potentially with the help of the importer, find out what is required by checking DEFRA’s website. You can also read more on their website about how the various parts of the certificate are filled in and which information is mandatory, and which is optional.
This applies to exports to the United Kingdom:
- The importer must register the consignment in the UK through the IPAFFS computer system
- The consignment will receive a unique notification number (UNN) in IPAFFS, which has the format IMP.GB.2021.1XXXXXX.
- A health certificate issued by an official veterinarian in Sweden must always accompany the consignment.
- The importer in the UK must provide the UNN number to the exporter or to the official veterinarian in Sweden, who will record the number in the health certificate.
- The exporter must provide the importer with an electronic copy of the health certificate so that it can be uploaded to IPAFFS.
- The exporter is responsible for ensuring that the original health certificate accompanies the consignment.
Bringing in semen, ova and embryos from sheep and goats from other countries
Semen, ova and embryos from EU Member State or from Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino
You may buy semen, ova and embryos from sheep and goats from EU Member States or from 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 for insemination and activities involving embryos
In order to trade with semen, ova and embryos, you must have a permit for activities involving insemination and embryos.
The semen and embryos must have been stored in an approved semen collection centre or embryo collection and production team 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, a zootechnical certificate must also accompany the semen.
Semen, ova and embryos from countries outside the EU
You may only import semen, ova and embryos from countries or establishments outside the EU if they are approved for import. A list of establishments in countries that are approved for import to the EU is provided on the EU’s website.
When you are importing to Sweden from countries outside the EU, other than Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Monaco or San Marino, the import must pass through an approved border control post. You must notify the veterinarian at the border control post at the latest one business day in advance.
If the import to Sweden takes place from a country outside the EU via another EU Member State, a notification for border control must be made to the border control post where the animals will enter the EU.
Bringing semen, ova and embryos from sheep and goats to other countries
Semen, ova and embryos to EU Member State or to 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 for insemination and activities involving embryos
In order to trade with semen, ova and embryos, you must have a permit for activities involving insemination and embryos.
Semen, ova and embryos to countries outside the EU
In order to export semen, ova and embryos to countries outside the EU, it is required that collection and storage was carried out at an establishment approved for these activities. Your establishment must be approved for intra-EU trade with semen, ova and embryos. You must also have a permit for activities involving insemination or embryos. The semen must come from semen collection centres which have been granted an EU approval by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Contact the country to which you are exporting
Please note that the export of animals requires careful preparation. Contact the embassy or the veterinary authorities of the destination country in good time in order to find out:
- Whether it is possible to export to the country
- Which rules apply in the country
- Whether any particular permit is required
- Whether you need to apply for anything in particular, e.g. an import licence
- Which health certificates are required, or which requirements must be met
Obtain a health certificate
Contact an official veterinarian well in advance to ascertain whether there is any negotiated health certificate which is valid in the country to which you are travelling or selling your animals. If there is a negotiated certificate it should be used.
If there is no negotiated certificate, you should contact the authorities in the destination country and find out which certificates they accept or what requirements must be met. If they only accept their own country's certificate, make sure your official veterinarian gets it well in advance. Never use a previously saved certificate without checking with the receiving country that the certificate is still valid and it is the latest version.
If you have only been informed about the requirements that must be met in order to be allowed to export to the country, it is you as the exporter who must write the certificate and insert the current requirements, as well as verify in writing with the recipient country that the final version is approved.
You must then give the information and the certificate to your official veterinarian in writing well in advance of the planned export.
The Swedish Board of Agriculture’s logo must not be used for a non-negotiated certificate.
The official veterinarian can always refuse to sign a health certificate if the requirements of the certificate are not met or if it is written in a language that the official veterinarian does not understand.
Please note that when a non-negotiated or general certificate is used, the export takes place at the exporter's own risk. Neither the Swedish Board of Agriculture nor the official veterinarian can provide any guarantees that the certificate will be accepted.
If applicable, submit an export application
If your export of animals must be negotiated with the authorities in the destination countries, you should submit an export application using our e-service. Once the export application has been received, negotiations with the destination country will be managed by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Keep in mind that negotiations may take a long time (usually several years) to complete. It is not a solution for a one-time export.
The export application is primarily aimed at those who intend to export large quantities and frequently. Note that received export applications are prioritized by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Find out if there are any export restrictions
Before you travel with animals or export them to countries outside the EU, you need to find out if any export restrictions apply due to contagious animal diseases.
Find out what rules apply for the transport
It is also important that you find out what rules and requirements apply to the transport.
Submit a customs declaration
If you sell semen, ova or embryos to a country outside the EU, you must submit an electronic customs declaration to the Swedish Customs.
If the semen, ova or embryos are returning to Sweden later
If you are bringing back semen, ova or embryos that you have previously travelled with or exported to a country outside the EU, you need to find out what rules apply.
Contact us if you have questions
You are welcome to send us an e-mail if you have any questions.
New rules for bringing animals or animal products to the United Kingdom
Here, you can find out what rules apply when you are bringing animals or animal products to the United Kingdom, but you must also read the general rules that apply when exporting to countries outside the EU.
As of 1 January 2021, new rules apply to trade with the United Kingdom. The ministry responsible for these rules is the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). If you have any questions, please contact them.
The rules are described in the guide Border Operating Model.
The UK is implementing the new rules in several phases throughout 2021 and 2022. The conditions for exports to the United Kingdom may change, and it is therefore important that anyone carrying out exports stays up-to-date via the DEFRA’s website.
What you need to do as an exporter
Companies that are exporting to the UK need to, among other things:
- In collaboration with the importer, find out which certificates should accompany the consignment.
- Ensure that you have access to the web-based system Traces in order to record the details required for the certificate.
- Check that the dispatching establishment is registered or approved, and that the transporter meets applicable requirements.
- If the transport to the UK will pass through other EU Member States, you must also check what applies when exporting to other EU Member States.
- Contact an official veterinarian in good time!
Health certificates and pre-registration
The importer to the UK should pre-register live animals, breeding materials and products from animals from the EU with the UK system Import of Products, Animals, Feed and Food Systems (IPAFFS). This must be done at the latest one business day prior to the expected arrival. A health certificate must always accompany the consignment. Physical controls may be carried out.
The health certificate has been developed by UK authorities and is available in the EU computer system Traces or on DEFRA’s website. It is your responsibility as an exporter to find out which certificate must be used, and for that reason it is important that you, potentially with the help of the importer, find out what is required by checking DEFRA’s website. You can also read more on their website about how the various parts of the certificate are filled in and which information is mandatory, and which is optional.
This applies to exports to the United Kingdom:
- The importer must register the consignment in the UK through the IPAFFS computer system
- The consignment will receive a unique notification number (UNN) in IPAFFS, which has the format IMP.GB.2021.1XXXXXX.
- A health certificate issued by an official veterinarian in Sweden must always accompany the consignment.
- The importer in the UK must provide the UNN number to the exporter or to the official veterinarian in Sweden, who will record the number in the health certificate.
- The exporter must provide the importer with an electronic copy of the health certificate so that it can be uploaded to IPAFFS.
- The exporter is responsible for ensuring that the original health certificate accompanies the consignment.
