At Mount Vet Hospital we have MPI-approved vets to issue export certificates for cats and dogs travelling to Australia.

New Zealand has an agreement with Australia to make it easier to export your cat or dog there. An Ministry of Primary Industries-approved vet takes care of the export certificate for you and you don’t need an animal welfare export certificate. An MPI-approved vet is a New Zealand-registered vet who is not employed by the ministry, but can sign the export certificate, if they are approved under the MPI Export Programme for cats and dogs to Australia.

We strongly advise the use of a registered pet exporter to help arrange tests, treatments, flights, crates and other requirements. Most airlines will only deal with a pet exporter as this adds assurance that all requirements will be completed at the appropriate time before departure. Fees and charges apply.

We also recommend visiting the Ministry for Primary Industries Website for information about any export of pets to Australia and to other countries:

 

www.mpi.govt.nz/exporting/animals/pets/cats-and-dogs-to-australia/

 

Cats and dogs exported from New Zealand to Australia must comply with the import requirements of Australia listed in this notice as follows:

Exporter’s responsibilities:

  • The animal for export has to be microchipped.
  • The animal for export has resided in Australia and/or New Zealand for the ninety (90) days prior to the scheduled date of export or since birth, and is not under any quarantine restriction at the time of export.
  • The animal for export will be least eight (8) weeks old at the time of export.
  • In the case of a dog, the dog is not one of the following breeds: Pit Bull Terrier type or American Pit Bull, Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.
  • The animal is not derived from a domestic/non-domestic hybrid. If the animal is a Bengal cat (Felis catus x Prionailurus bengalensis), it is proven to be five generations removed from the Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).
  • If travelling by air, the animal will be transported in accordance with the container requirements specified in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations.
  • In the case of a female cat or female dog, the animal will not be more than forty (40) days pregnant, nor suckling young at the time of export.
  • In the case of a dog it must be noted on the export certificate whether the dog has been continuously resident in New Zealand since birth or the dog has been continuously resident in New Zealand since imported from Australia or the dog has been continuously resident in New Zealand since import from a country other than Australia/ the residency history is unknown (and has been resident in New Zealand for at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the test for Ehrlichia and Leishmania as per clause below*).
  • In the case of a dog it must be noted on the export certificate if the dog has been resident in mainland Africa (if known).

* In the case of a dog: EITHER

1. Noted that the Veterinarian is satisfied by the “exporter’s declaration” that the dog has been continuously resident in New Zealand since birth or since it was imported from Australia; OR

2. the dog was subjected to an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for Ehrlichia canis with negative test results (at 1:40) on a blood sample collected after it has resided in New Zealand for at least twenty-one (21) days. Date of sample collection to be recorded, AND

3. the dog was tested for Leishmania infantum by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) or an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with negative test results on a blood sample collected after it has resided in New Zealand for at least twenty-one (21) days. Date of sample collection, and test used to be recorded.

4. In the case of a dog that has resided in mainland Africa, the dog has been treated for Babesia canis with imidocarb dipropionate:

EITHER

a) one treatment at 7.5 mg/kg bodyweight OR

b) two treatments at 6 mg/kg bodyweight with an interval of two weeks.

5. The animal has been treated for external and internal parasites within five (5) days of the scheduled time of shipment.

6. The Veterinarian has examined the animal for export and scanned and confirmed the microchip within five (5) days of the scheduled time of shipment and have found it to be fit to travel.

7. Any additional health/treatment information must be attached to the export certificate.

The above information must be declared and signed by the owner on the “exporter’s declaration” part of the export certificate. If the owner cannot present the animal for certification (i.e. if the “exporter declaration’s” is to be signed by an exporter or a representative) then an “Owner Statutory Declaration” signed by the owner in the presence of a Justice of the Peace or other person authorised to take a statutory declaration, must be presented to the certifying veterinarian.