Trade Facilitation Unit - Cats and Dogs

The Bahamas currently has conditions to allow the importation of poultry and poultry products from various countries. Having conducted an import risk analysis (IRA) that considers quarantine risks that may be associated with the importation to The Bahamas of cats and dogs from any country, the IRA recommends that the importation of cats and dogs to The Bahamas could be permitted subject to compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures to manage the quarantine risks of a range of significant diseases to a very low level. The IRA assessed all potential disease agents that may be introduced to The Bahamas via the importation of cats and dogs and SPS measures. These diseases include Rabies, Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Adenovirus, Feline Leukemia, Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus, Feline Panleukopenia and Feline Pneumonitis.

Based on this risk assessment The Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA) has developed conditions of import for cats and dog consignments. They are outlined below. All consignments of cats and dogs must:

1. Meet the import conditions for cats and dogs in Appendix 1

APPENDIX 1

Conditions for importation of Cats and Dogs

1. If a country, zone, or compartment free from rabies according to World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) wishes to export:
   1. Dogs,
      1. an international veterinary certificate (within forty-eight (48) hours of importation) is required and must attest that the dog(s):
         1. is/are more than six (6) months of age
         2. was/were actively immunized against the following diseases:
            1. Rabies
            2. Distemper,
            3. Hepatitis,
            4. Leptospirosis,
            5. Parvovirus, and
            6. Adenovirus
         3. is/are free of internal parasites as determined by a negative test result using a stool sample test.
         4. is/are free of external parasites.
   2. Cats,
      1. an international veterinary certificate (within forty-eight (48) hours of importation) is required and must attest that the cats(s):
         1. is/are more than six (6) months of age, since birth
         2. was/were actively immunized against the following diseases:
            1. Rabies
            2. Feline Leukemia,
            3. Feline Rhinotracheitis,
            4. Feline Calicivirus,
            5. Feline Panleukopenia and
            6. Feline Pneumonitis
         3. is/are free of internal parasites as determined by a negative faecal matter test result.
         4. is/are free of external parasites.
2. If a country, zone, or compartment not free from rabies according to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) wishes to export:
   1. Dogs,
      1. an international veterinary certificate (within forty-eight (48) hours of importation) is required and must attest that the dog(s):
         1. is/are more than six (6) months of age
         2. was/were actively immunized against the following diseases:
            1. Rabies by either:
               1. one (1) year duration vaccine – the vaccine must have been administered within not more than ten (10) months and not less than one (1) month prior to importation; or
               2. three (3) year duration vaccine – the vaccine must have been administered within not more than thirty-four (34) months and not less than one (1) month prior to importation.
            2. Distemper,
            3. Hepatitis,
            4. Leptospirosis,
            5. Parvovirus,
            6. Adenovirus, and
            7. Coronavirus
         3. is/are free of internal parasites as determined by a negative faecal matter test result.
         4. is/are free of external parasites.
   2. Cats,
      1. an international veterinary certificate (within forty-eight (48) hours of importation) is required and must attest that the cats(s):
         1. is/are more than six (6) months of age
         2. was/were actively immunized against the following diseases:
            1. Rabies by either:
               1. one (1) year duration vaccine – the vaccine must have been administered within not more than ten (10) months and not less than one (1) month prior to importation; or
               2. three (3) year duration vaccine – the vaccine must have been administered within not more than thirty-four (34) months and not less than one (1) month prior to importation.
            2. Feline Leukemia,
            3. Feline Rhinotracheitis,
            4. Feline Calicivirus,
            5. Feline Panleukopenia and
            6. Feline Pneumonitis
         3. is/are free of internal parasites as determined by a negative faecal matter test result.
         4. is/are free of external parasites.