It is the exporter's responsibility to ensure that the animal meets the importing country requirements.

The requirements for importing live animals into the Cook Islands from Australia can be found on the Cook Islands' Ministry of Agriculture website for Biosecurity – register & forms.

A permit is required and can be obtained from:

Address

Ministry of Agriculture
Government of the Cook Islands
PO Box 96
Raratonga

Email

moa.support@cookislands.gov.ck

Phone

+682 28711 (international)

The permit is valid for 6 months from date of issue and is valid for one consignment.

Note

Where an importing country issues an import permit, the exporter must ensure the animal meets any requirements in the permit.

Health certification

As importing country requirements may change without advice to the department you should check the import permit and/or the country website carefully at the time of preparation for export.

Health certificate

INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE FOR CATS FROM AUSTRALIA.

I ___________________________, being a full time Government Veterinary Officer of the exporting country hereby certify that:

1. After due enquiry I have no reason to doubt the truth of the owner's/exporter's declaration attached;
   
   
2. I have identified the cat described as follows on ____________________________;
   
   Breed: ____________________________
   
   Sex: ______________________________
   
   Age: ______________________________ (years/ months)
   
   Description (including colour): _______________________________________________
   
   
3. In the period of five years preceding export, rabies has not been diagnosed in the country of export;
   
   
4. The cat described above was;
   
   
1. vaccinated against feline enteritis (panleucopaenia) virus on_________________________;
   

   Note
   

   This date must be at least one month and not more than twelve months prior to export.
   

2. vaccinated against feline rhinotracheitis virus and feline calicivirus on _______________________;

   Note

   This date must be at least one month and not more than three months prior to export.

3. at least three months of age at the time of the above vaccinations;
4. treated with an anthelmintic effective against roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms within three days of departure;
5. washed twice with an effective insecticide solution at a seven day interval, the last being within three days of departure;
6. examined within three days of departure and found to be free of clinical signs of disease and free of all ectoparasites (especially ticks);
   
   
5. No bedding of cereal or animal origin is accompanying this cat;
   
   SIGNATURE: ________________________________ DATE: _____________________________
   
   Name and address ____________________________________________________________
   
   ____________________________________________________________
   
   ____________________________________________________________
   
   NOTE 1: A separate declaration must be completed for each animal being exported.
   NOTE 2: All pages are to be endorsed with the Official Stamp.

Declaration

DECLARATION BY EXPORTER OF CATS BEING CONSIGNED TO THE COOK ISLANDS

I, ___________________________, (BLOCK LETTERS), the owner/ exporter* of the cat described as follows:

Breed:____________________________

Sex:______________________________

Age:______________________________ (years/ months)

Description (including colour): _______________________________________________

declare that:

1. During the 30-day period immediately preceding the date of export the cat has been free from symptoms of disease and has not been in contact with any animal displaying symptoms of disease;
2. The cat has resided in the country of embarkation for at least six months prior to export, or since birth if less than six months of age;
3. The cat will be at least four months of age on the date of export.

SIGNATURE: ……………………………………………………………… DATE: ……………………………
                        (Owner/ Exporter)*

ADDRESS …………………………………………………………………………………………………………

*Delete whichever is not applicable.

NOTE: A separate declaration must be completed for each animal being exported.

1. A permit to import animals from Australia to the Cook Islands must be obtained from the Director of Biosecurity Service, Ministry of Agriculture.
2. Each animal must be accompanied by a signed Statutory Declaration from the exporter.
3. Each animal must be accompanied by the International Animal Health Certificate signed by an official veterinary officer of the exporting country.
4. Before unloading on arrival the documents required in sections 1 and 2 above must be presented to a Biosecurity Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, Cook Islands.
5. The animal must be consigned to the Cook Islands by air only as manifested cargo.
6. The actual date of embarkation and the airline/flight number must be advised to the Biosecurity Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Cook Islands (telephone (682) 28710, email: biosecurity@agriculture.gov.ck) at the earliest opportunity and at least one working day before shipping.
7. The animal must be transported in accordance with the recommendations for the Transport of Live Animals of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) live Animal Regulations as appropriate. 
8. The animal will be inspected and treated as necessary on arrival in the Cook Islands by a Biosecurity Officer and may not leave the quarantine area of the port of entry until a Permit to Land has been issued.
9. Any animal imported into the Cook Islands in contravention of any conditions of the Permit to Land (of which these conditions form a part) will be seized and may be destroyed or re-exported at the owner's expense.
10. The Import Permit is not transferable and is valid only for the importation/s specified. Any change in details or circumstances must be notified immediately to the Director of Biosecurity, who may endorse the Import Permit accordingly.
11. This Import Permit may be cancelled at any time before shipment should the animal health and quarantine status of the exporting country change.
    

Transport requirements

The importing country may have specific transport requirements and you should check this.

Port-of-entry requirements

1. Animals must be accompanied by all documentation as required in the conditions of importation.
2. Animals must be examined by an Inspector of the Cook Islands' Ministry of Agriculture and found suitable for importation.
3. A permit to land will only be issued subject to the conditions of importation being complied with.

If your animal is returning to Australia, you should make yourself familiar with the Department’s requirements for importing live animals into Australia. This is important as your animal may have been exposed to diseases that do not occur in Australia.

Micor entry reflects import permit requirements of a permit issued in June 2018 and importing country website and information. 

Entry last reviewed 29 April 2021.