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

W​​here 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 international racehorses to be exported to Japan from Australia.

Definitions

"Exported racehorse" means a racehorse (including a training partner horse) exported to Japan from Listed Countries only for the purpose of participating in international horserace, not staying in Japan more than 60 days (duration from the day of release from the import animal quarantine to the previous day of the export quarantine), and leaving Japan immediately after racing.

"Returning racehorse" means a racehorse which returns to Japan after participating in international horserace and staying in Listed Countries for 90 days or less.

"International racehorse" means an exported racehorse and a returning racehorse.

Health certificate

I, Dr ………………………………, a duly authorised government veterinary officer, hereby certify that:

VETERINARY HEALTH CERTIFICATE FOR INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSES TO BE EXPORTED TO JAPAN FROM AUSTRALIA

1. During the 60 days immediately prior to shipment to Japan, the International racehorse met the following requirements:
   
   
   1. The horse has resided only in Australia.
      
   
   
   2. There have been no outbreaks of African horse sickness and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis for at least 2 years in Australia.
   
   
   3. The horse has been stabled under veterinary supervision in premises which have been free from the diseases listed below (*) for at least 60 days immediately prior to its shipment to Japan, and has furthermore not shown any clinical signs of listed diseases (*).
      
      *Listed diseases: Anthrax, Epizootic lymphangitis, Equine infectious anaemia, Equine influenza, Equine encephalitis (Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, Japanese encephalitis), Equine morbillivirus pneumonia (Hendra virus infection), Equine paratyphoid, equine piroplasmosis, Equine rhinopneumonitis, Equine trypsanosomiasis, Equine viral arteritis, Glanders, Horse pox, Nipah virus infection, Rabies and vesicular stomatitis.
   
   
   4. The horse has not entered premises used for horse breeding, nor has been used for natural mating or artificial insemination.


2. The horse has been tested for the following diseases with negative results within 30 days immediately prior to shipment to Japan (delete those not applicable):
   
   
   1. Equine infectious anaemia: Agar-gel immunodiffusion test
      
      Date of Sampling: (dd/mm/yyyy)
   
   
   2. Equine viral arteritis: Serum neutralisation test
      
      Date of Sampling: (dd/mm/yyyy)
   
   
   3. Equine Influenza: PCR or antigen ELISA on a nasopharyngeal swab taken during the 5 days prior to shipment to Japan
      
      Date of sampling: (dd/mm/yyyy)


3. The International Racehorse has been vaccinated against Equine influenza on two occasions at an interval of 3 to 6 weeks (or once in the case of a booster), and as per manufacturers’ instructions, within 6 months immediately prior to shipment to Japan. The horse has not been vaccinated with a live vaccine within 2 weeks immediately prior to shipment to Japan.
   

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

4. ​During the 60 days prior to export, no case of West Nile virus infection was confirmed within 50 kilometres of any premises in Australia where the International Racehorse has been held during the 14 days immediately prior to export to Japan.


5. All containers, land vehicles and loading areas of any ship or aircraft used in the transportation of the International Racehorse within Australia have been fully cleaned and disinfected in advance with chemicals registered by the government authorities of Australia.


6. The International Racehorse has not been loaded together with any equine or cloven-hooved animal, except another racehorse participating in international horse races in Japan.


7. Where the International Racehorse has been vaccinated against diseases other than equine influenza:
   
   Horse Identification:
   
   Date of Vaccination:
   
   Type of vaccine used:


8. Name and address of premises where the International Racehorse is usually stabled:
   
   Name and Address


9. ​Name and address of all premises in which the International Racehorse resided within 60 days immediately prior to shipment to Japan:
   
   

   Residence Period	Country	Name and Address of Premises

No additional feed and/or litter is allowed to be provided during the transportation to Japan.

The government authorities of Australia are responsible for issuing a health certificate in English which lists stipulated below.

1. Aforementioned article​ 1 and 4 to 6.
2. Dates, methods and results of examinations for each disease listed in aforementioned article.
3. Date of vaccination and kind of vaccine used for equine influenza.
4. Date of vaccination and kind of vaccine used in the event that the International Racehorse has been vaccinated against diseases other than equine influenza.
5. Name and address of the premises in which the International Racehorse is usually stabled.
6. Residence period (including date of import and export) of all countries in which the International Racehorse has resided within 60 days immediately prior to shipment to Japan.
   
7. Name and address of all premises in which the International Racehorse has resided within 60 days immediately prior to shipment to Japan.
8. Microchip number, tattoo number, or any other distinguishing characteristics for identification of the horse.
9. Date of issue, name and title of signer, and authorities name and address of the inspection certificate.

In the event that any infectious diseases are detected in the International Racehorse during import quarantine inspection in Japan, animal health authorities in Japan shall retain the discretion of reshipping or slaughtering the affected racehorse.

The Animal Health Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan shall be notified in the event of an outbreak of equine piroplasmosis, equine trypanosomiasis, glanders, Nipah virus infection and vesicular stomatitis in Australia.​

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 hea​​lth conditions.

Entry last reviewed 2 May 2023.