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

Contact the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)​ for information about the process required to import animals into Japan from Australia.

Note

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

Health certification

The health certificate below applies to the permanent export of horses to Japan from Australia​

Health certificate

VETERINARY HEALTH CERTIFICATE FOR HORSES TO BE EXPORTED TO JAPAN FROM AUSTRALIA

Graphic identifications attached

1. 1) Australia is free from: African horse sickness, vesicular stomatitis, horse pox, rabies, equine encephalomyelitis (excluding Japanese encephalitis), glanders, equine paratyphoid (Salmonella abortusequi), epizootic lymphangitis, contagious equine metritis, equine piroplasmosis and equine trypanosomiasis.
2. 2) There have been no clinical signs or serologically positive* cases of: equine infectious anaemia, equine influenza, equine rhinopneumonitis, strangles, equine viral arteritis and Japanese encephalitis on the stabling premises for at least 3 months prior to shipment to Japan.
   
   (* serologically positive: laboratory reports showing at least a fourfold increase in antibody levels from serological tests taken 10-14 days apart)


3. 3) The exported horses have been stabled on the premises stated in item 2 above for at least 60 days immediately before the commencement of embarkation-quarantine in item 5 below.
   
   During the 60 days period the listed export horses in this consignment were stabled at:
   
   (include name of horse and name and address of stable)
   
   Name of horses:
   
   Name and Address of stable:


4. 4) The exported horses have been vaccinated against equine influenza twice at 3 to 6 weeks intervals (once in the case of a booster), and as per manufacturers’ instructions, within 1 (one) year prior to entering the embarkation-quarantine station using inactivated vaccine. (Embarkation-quarantine).
   

   Horse	Vaccination date(s)	Primary / Booster	Type of vaccine used	Manufacturer	Batch No’s.

5. 5) The exported horses were isolated in an embarkation-quarantine station authorised by the government authorities of Australia for at least 7 days immediately prior shipment to Japan as a secured and guaranteed place from an animal health point of view. After entry into the embarkation-quarantine station, the exported horses have not had contact with other equidae or domestic animals which are not destined for export to Japan. However, in the case that the exported horses are stallions that were vaccinated against equine viral arteritis, the requirement that the exported horses have not had contact with other animals can be modified to allow the testing requirements for equine viral arteritis (Clause 7b below).
   

   Name and address of embarkation quarantine:
   Start date of embarkation quarantine: (dd/mm/yyyy)	End date of embarkation quarantine: (dd/mm/yyyy)

6. 6) The exported horses showed no signs of any infectious disease through careful clinical inspections conducted by the government veterinarians of Australia during the period of the embarkation-quarantine stated in item 5 above.
7. 7) The exported horses tested negative for the following tests (laboratory results attached) ​within the period of 30 days immediately before shipment to Japan:
   
   
   1. equine infectious anaemia: agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID)
      
      Date of sampling: (dd/mm/yyyy)
   
   
   2. equine viral arteritis: (delete where appropriate)
      
      
      1. Non vaccinated horse: serum neutralisation (SN) test (negative is no reaction at 1:4 or greater)
         
         Date of sampling: (dd/mm/yyyy)
      
      
      2. Stallions vaccinated for EVA
         
         Vaccination date(s): (dd/mm/yyyy)         Type of vaccine used: ………………………
         
         Name of manufacturer: ………………………  Batch Number: ………………………
         
         Blood samples were taken from the vaccinated stallion immediately prior to the vaccination on (dd/mm/yyyy) and the serum was subjected to SN test with a negative result at a serum dilution 1:4.
         
         Blood samples were taken from the vaccinated stallion three times, at intervals of not less than 2 weeks. The first sample on (dd/mm/yyyy) at the stabling premises, and twice at the embarkation-quarantine station on (dd/mm/yyyy) and on (dd/mm/yyyy). The third blood sample was taken within 10 days prior to shipment.
         
         All three samples were subject to SN test with a result of, either no significant rise (less than a fourfold rise) of these titres, or declining titres.
         
         In the case that titres were maintained, the vaccinated stallion was subjected to (A) COVERING TEST with negative result or (B) VIRUS ISOLATION FROM SEMEN with a negative result as described below.
   
   
   3. equine influenza: PCR test for influenza A or equine influenza virus*
      ​
      
      • * The tests must be performed twice 7 to 10 days apart with last test performed within 4 days of departure and each test must be performed during the embarkation-quarantine period.
        
        1st sample collection date: (dd/mm/yyyy)
        
        2nd sample collection date: (dd/mm/yyyy)
        


8. ​8) An Australian government officer directly supervised the cleaning and disinfecting of all the containers, vehicles and loading places of a ship or aircraft to be used in the transportation of the exported horses with chemicals registered by the Australian government.
9. 9) The exported horses were isolated from any other animals during the transportation period in Australia. And no other animals were permitted (mix loading) on board the ship or aircraft used for the transportation of the exported horses to Japan.
10. 10) Feed and litter to be used during the transportation to Japan were provided from the same source used for the pre-embarkation quarantine.​
    

1. COVERING TEST
   Two test mares used for the covering test satisfy the​ requirements for horses to be exported to Japan and were isolated at the same embarkation-quarantine station together with the vaccinated stallion for 30 days prior to the shipment of the vaccinated stallion to Japan, with negative results of the following tests:
   
   
   1. Blood samples were taken from the two test mares immediately prior to entering the embarkation-quarantine station, and were subjected to the serum neutralisation test with a negative result at a serum dilution of 1:4
   2. During the 30 days embarkation-quarantine period, each of the two test mares were covered by the vaccinated stallion twice a day for two days, and on the 14th day and 28th day respectively after the last covering, blood samples were taken from each of​ the two test mares and were subjected to the serum neutralisation test with a negative result at a serum dilution of 1:4
   3. The two test mares were found to be free of signs or symptoms of equine viral arteritis during the 30 days embarkation-quarantine period.


2. VIRUS ISOLATION FROM SEMEN
   The vaccinated stallion was isolated at the embarkation-quarantine station for 30 days prior to shipment to Japan, and subjected to the virus isolation test from semen during the said embarkation-quarantine period as follows:
   
   
   1. Disinfectants were not used in cleaning of the collecting instruments and the external genitalia of the stallion prior to collection.
   2. The collection of semen from the vaccinated stallion was conducted twice at an interval of one day or several days using an artificial vagina or a condom.  The sample for virus isolation test is taken from a portion of sperm-rich fraction of the collected semen.
   3. Two semen samples from the vaccinated stallion were subjected to virus isolation tests in accordance with procedures prescribed in “OIE Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines, chapter 2.5.10 EQUINE VIRAL ARTERITIS” with negative result.​​
      

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.

Based on agreed health conditions.

Entry last reviewed 2 May 2023.