Importing sheep and goats from countries outside the EU
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.
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.
You are only allowed to bring cattle into Sweden from certain countries outside the EU
Imports of live sheep/goats are permitted from the following countries:
Canada - entire territory, sheep and goats for continued breeding and intended for slaughter.
Chile - entire territory, sheep and goats for continued breeding.
United Kingdom - GB - 1, GB- 2, sheep and goats for continued breeding and intended for slaughter.
Guernsey - entire territory, sheep and goats for continued breeding.
Greenland - entire territory, sheep and goats for continued breeding.
Isle of Man - entire territory, sheep and goats for continued breeding and intended for slaughter.
Iceland - entire territory, sheep and goats for continued breeding and intended for slaughter.
New Zealand - entire territory, sheep and goats for continued breeding and intended for slaughter.
Sweden’s status concerning the disease scrapie further limits the possibilities.
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 genotype ARR/ARR and goats with the K222, D146 or S146 alleles can be imported from countries with a lower scrapie status as they are considered resistant to the disease.
You are welcome to contact us for more information.
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 in semen, ova and embryos from sheep and goats from other countries
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.
Contact us for more information
This page provides an overview of the rules that apply. Until then, you are welcome to contact us for more information.
