IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS [ S.L.36.42 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 36.42
IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS 
REGULATIONS
17th February, 1998
LEGAL NOTICE 59 of 1998.
Title.
Cats Regulations.
Interpretation.
requires -
"animals" means dog and cats; 
"department" means the Department of veterinary service; 
"Director" means the Director of veterinary service, and includes
any officer of the department duly authorised by him to act on his
behalf;
"I.A.T.A." means the Internationa1 Air Transport Association;
"Minister" means the Minister who from time to time is
responsible for the department;
Cap. 36.
"quarantine station" means the government quarantine dog
kennels at Luqa, or such other place as may be appointed by the
Minister from time to time by notice in the Gazette.
(2) Words and expressions which occur in the Ordinance and
which are not otherwise defined in these Regulations shall have the
same meaning as is assigned to them by article 2 thereof.
Importation of 
animals.
3. (1) No animals shall be imported into Malta from any
country whatsoever without a written permission from the Director
having been previously obtained.
(2) The Director may defer consideration of importation
applications, until official information about the existence or
otherwise of rabies in the exporting county is made available to
him.
(3) The import permit issued by the Director and the
certificates under paragraphs ( a ) to ( c ) of this sub-regulation must
accompany the animals on arrival in Malta and must be completed
in full by the competent authority or person duly authorised to
complete such certificates or declaration in the exporting country:
( a ) veterinary certificate (First Schedule);
( b ) owner/agent declaration (Second Schedule);
( c ) port veterinary certificate (Third Schedule).
(4)  If, for any reason, beyond the importer’s control, such
certification requisites cannot be met, an application for
2 [ S.L.36.42 IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS
dispensation will be considered and issued at the discretion of the
Minister on the advice of the Council of Health, but only if the
following information is forwarded by the government veterinary
authorities of the exporting country:
( a ) which clauses of the import health standard cannot be
met and why this has occurred;
( b ) the reason the animal/s are considered to be of an
equivalent health status and/or what proposal is made
to conform to the health conditions requested;
( c ) the reason why this proposal should be acceptable to
the Malta authorities and the recommendation for
acceptance.
Restrictions on 
importations.
4. (1) Importation of animals is allowed only from specified
countries and territories in the three categories listed below:
( a ) Countries and territories which have declared to be
free of rabies or of having an efficient control but have
not been formally recognised by Malta as being free:
Fiji, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Mauritius,
Netherlands, Antilles and Aruba, Portugal, Spain,
Seychelles, Taiwan.
( b ) Countries and territories which Malta recognises as
not having urban rabies or that it is well controlled:
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, France,
Germany, Greenland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Switzerland, United States of America.
( c ) Countries and territories which Malta recognises as
rabies free and which have an effective control/
surveillance programme: Australia, Hawaii, Republic
of Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden,
United Kingdom.
(2) ( a ) The animal must have been resident in the country of
origin for at least six months or, in the case of younger
animals, since birth.
( b ) During the two months immediately before export to
Malta, the animals must not have been resident in an
official quarantine premises.
(3) Animals must not be more than forty-two days pregnant at
the date of shipment.
(4) Other than from countries listed under paragraph ( c ) of sub-
regulation (1) of this regulation, animals must be more than nine
months old at date of shipment.
Animal 
identification.
5. Each animal must be identified with a microchip and the
identification details must be shown on the accompanying
certification. The importer must ensure that a reader is made
available to identify animals arriving at a Malta quarantine station.
Tests prior to 
exportation.
6. (1) All animals have, prior to export, to undergo the
required tests and/or treatments as defined in the annexed
veterinary certificates referred to in the Schedules to these
IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS [ S.L.36.42 3
Regulations.
(2) All serological tests must be conducted at a laboratory
approved by the government of the exporting country.
(3) If the veterinary authority in the country of origin can show
to the satisfaction of the Director that a disease which has a testing
requirement does not occur in the country, then testing can be
waived at the discretion of the Director.
Air lifting of 
animals into Malta.
7. (1) All animals entering Malta must be air lifted and only
those qualified for entry into Malta are permitted to be carried on
the aircraft.
(2) The animal must be carried in an approved container which
meets the I.A.T.A. standards. Such container is to be so constructed
so that:
-  it is strong enough to prevent the animal from
escaping;
-  the whole of one end is open and covered with bars,
wild mesh or have smooth expanded metal securely
attached, to provide the main ventilation opening;
-  have ventilation openings on all sides totalling a
minimum 16% of the surface area;
-  be nose and paw proof, i.e. only have ventilation
openings of such size that it is impossible for the
animal to protrude its nose or paws outside the
container;
-  be large enough to permit the animal to stand in a
natural position, turn around and lie down;
-  contain a fixed drinking bowl to which water can be
provided without opening the container.
(3) The use of straw or hay as bedding is not permitted. Only
sterilised peat, soft board or other inert approved product may be
used.
(4) The door of the container must be sealed with the exporting
country’s government approved seal before the container is loaded
into the aircraft in the country of origin. The number or mark on the
seal is to be recorded on the accompanying documentation. The
construction of the container and the placement of the seal must be
such that the container cannot be readily opened without breaking
the seal. If the container is opened during shipment it shall be
resealed and a certificate detailing the circumstances shall be
provided by an official veterinarian, or by the captain of the
aircraft.
(5) The container must not be off-loaded en-route except
during normal baggage handling procedures and where trans-
shipment has been specifically authorised by the Director.
(6)  Air carriers must advise the Director, at least seventy-two
hours before the expected time of the arrival of any animal, giving
the flight number and arrival time.
4 [ S.L.36.42 IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS
Arrival in Malta. 8. On arrival in Malta the animal shall be transported directly
to the quarantine station approved by the Director in a vehicle
under the supervision of a Customs officer.
Detention in 
quarantine.
9. (1) Animals referred to in regulation 4(1)( a ) of these
Regulations shall be held for a minimum of one hundred and eighty
days in quarantine, animals referred to in paragraph ( b ) of the said
sub-regulation shall be quarantined for a minimum of thirty days,
whilst animals referred to in paragraph ( c ) of the said sub-
regulation shall be quarantined for a minimum of twenty-one days.
(2)  If on arrival the container referred to in regulation 7(4) of
these Regulations is unsealed, or the seal is broken, or if the
accompanying documentation is unsatisfactory, the animal may, at
the discretion of the Director, and at the expense of the importer, be
exported, destroyed or required to remain in quarantine for up to
one hundred and eighty days as may be determined by the Director.
(3) During quarantine, the animal will be retested by a
neutralising antibody titration test for rabies antibody. If there is
insufficient rabies antibody in the animal’s serum, the animal may
be re-vaccinated and/or retested, exported, destroyed, or required to
remain in quarantine for up to one hundred and eighty days.
(4) During quarantine, each imported dog may be tested for
heartworm due to  Dirofilaria immitis ,  leptospirosis  due to
Leptospira interrogans var. canicola,  canine brucellosis ( Brucella
canis ) and canine tropical pancytopaenia ( Ehrlichia canis ). If the
animal is positive to any of these tests, it may be treated and re-
tested. If the dog is subsequently considered to be infected, it may
be further treated, or exported, destroyed, or detained in quarantine.
(5) The Director reserves the right to increase the period of
quarantine referred to in sub-regulations (1) and (2) of this
regulation for any animal:
Provided that in such cases the importer may appeal from
such decision to the Council of Health.
Arrivals other than 
by air lift.
10. Animals arriving in Malta without the necessary import
permit or on board any ship, yacht, pleasure craft or any vessel for
transport by sea, shall not be allowed to be kept on board such
vessel but shall be conveyed immediately to the quarantine station
for immediate destruction or re-exportation within a period not
exceeding one week.
Fees due. 11. (1) The fee for the escort, expenses of conveyance and
maintenance of animals, in the quarantine station, and the charges
for testing (both local and abroad) and treatments shall be at the
charge of the owner or of any other person for the time being in
charge of such animal.
(2) In default of payment of such charges within fifteen days
from the date on which it falls due, it shall be lawful for the
Director to cause the animal to be destroyed or to be found a home.
Liability in 
quarantine station.
12.  The Director shall not be responsible for anything that
might happen to the animal during its stay in any quarantine station
except for causes due to the wilful negligence of the detaining
IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS [ S.L.36.42 5
authority.
6 [ S.L.36.42 IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS
FIRST SCHEDULE
(Regulation 3 (3) (a))
Coat type and markings: .............................................................
Microchip No: ......... Scanner type: ......... Implanted Site: ..........
II. ORIGIN OF THE ANIMALS
Name(s) and address(es) of exporter(s): ......................................
...................................................................................................
Place(s) of origin of animals: ...................................................... 
(where it has been domiciled during the six months prior to export)
Airport embarkation:  ....................................................................
VETERINARY CERTIFICATE: DOG/CAT
Exporting Country: ...................................................................
Import Health Permit No: ..........................................................
Ministry/Department: ................................................................
Service: ....................................................................................
Region: .....................................................................................
I. IDENTIFICATION OF ANIMALS 
Type of Animal: Feline Canine
Name of Animal: ......................................................................
Age or date of Birth: .................................................................
Sex (please tick)
Male Female
must not be more than six weeks pregnant
Neutered Male Neutered Female
Breed: .......................................................................................
(Breeds ineligible for imports: pit bull terriers, Japanese tosa,
dogo Argentino, Fila Braziliero)
Colour: .....................................................................................
IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS [ S.L.36.42 7
III. DESTINATION OF ANIMALS
Name and address of consignee: .................................................
Means of transport: .....................................................................
Airport of arrival: .......................................................................
IV.  SANITARY INFORMATION
I, ......................................, being a Government Veterinary
Officer, or a veterinarian accredited to provide export certification
on behalf of the Government Veterinary Service (hereinafter called
the Accredited Veterinarian), certify with respect to the animals
identified in the Animal Health Certificate that:
1. After due enquiry I have no reason to doubt the owner/
agent’s declaration.
2. After due enquiry I am satisfied that the animal has been
continuously resident in the country or territory of origin for the
past six months and has not been in quarantine or under quarantine
restrictions during the 60 days immediately prior to export.
3. Rabies.
3.1. The dog and or cat was vaccinated against rabies with an
approved inactivated virus vaccine:
- in the case of a primovaccination,
on ........................(date) not less than six months and not more
than one year prior to shipment, when the animal was at least three
months old,
OR
- in the case of a booster vaccination,
on ........................ (date), not more than one year prior to
shipment.
3.2. A copy of the rabies vaccination certificate for the most
recent vaccination, and in the case where the most recent
vaccination was a booster, a copy of the rabies vaccination
certificate for the previous vaccination, is attached.
3.3. The animal was subjected on ........................ (date), being
not less than three months and not more than six months prior to
shipment, to a neutralising antibody titration for rabies conducted
at an official laboratory in accordance with one of the methods
described in the  OIE Manual of Standards ; for diagnostic tests and
vaccines, and found to have at least 0.5 IU/ml of antibody in its
serum; a copy of the laboratory report is attached.
4. During the previous 12 months but not less than 30 days
immediately prior to export the animal was vaccinated against:
EITHER, in the case of a dog:
canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, canine parvovirus,
pare influenza.
OR, in the case of a cat:
8 [ S.L.36.42 IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS
feline enteritis, feline rhinotracheitis and feline calcivirus.
5. In the case of a dog, it has been tested and/or treated for
canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) according to the following
schedule:
5.1. Within 30 days of departure one to two mls of blood were
collected from the dog and tested negative to a microfilariae
concentration test and an antigen test.
5.2. Within 24 hours of export to MALTA the dog was treated
orally with one dose of ivermectin at 50 mcg/kg by the certifying
veterinarian.
6. In the case of a dog, within 30 days prior to the schedule of
shipment:
6.1. The dog has been tested using the slide agglutination test
(microscopic agglutination test) for  Brucella canis  with negative
results - negative is less than 50% agglutination at a serum dilution
of 1:100).
6.2. It has been tested using the agglutination test for
leptospirosis ( serotype Leptospira canicola ) with negative results,
(negative is less than 50% agglutination at 1:100).
OR
The dog was tested for Leptospira interrogans var. canicola
infection by serum agglutination tests, on samples collected twice
at an interval of not less than 14 days within 30 days prior to
export, with a titre of not more than 1:400 on each occasion and no
increase in titre between the first and second tests and the
laboratory report (or a copy endorsed by an Official Veterinarian) is
attached;
Date of sample collection: ..........................................................
OR
Within 30 days prior to export the dog was treated with
dihydrostreptomycin sulfate daily for five days at therapeutic dose
rates;
Dose rate of dihydrostreptomycin sulfate used ................. mg/kg
bodyweight
Date of first treatment: .................... .Date of last treatment: .......
6.3. The dog has been tested using the indirect fluorescent
antibody test for canine tropical pancytopaenia -  Ehrlichia canis
(infection) with negative results (laboratory results attached to this
certificate).
7.  In the case of a dog and/or cat:
7.1.  Within 14 days of the intended date of shipment, the
animal was treated for nematodes by an approved anthelminthic
effective against nematodes:
Active ingredient: .......................................................................
Dose rate: .................................. Date of treatment: ................... 
Within 14 days of the intended date of shipment, the animal was
IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS [ S.L.36.42 9
treated for cestodes by an approved anthelminthic effective against
cestodes:
Active ingredient: .......................................................................
Dose rate: .................................. Date of treatment: ................... 
7.2. The animal was examined and found to be free from
clinical signs of infectious or contagious diseases and of external
parasites, and was treated with an insecticide dip or spray capable
of killing ticks, lice and fleas within 96 hours prior to export.
Active ingredient: .......................................................................
Date of administration: ............................................................... 
8. All laboratory tests were conducted at a Government
laboratory or one approved by the Government Veterinary Service
in this country.
........................................ ..................................
Accredited Veterinarian or  Date
Government Veterinary Officer 
(Delete whichever is not applicable)
If the above signature is that of an accredited Veterinarian, I the
undersigned certify that ............................. is an Accredited
Veterinarian.
........................................ ................................
Government Veterinary Officer  Official stamp and date
10 [ S.L.36.42 IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS
SECOND SCHEDULE
(Regulation 3 (3)) 
I, .................................., being the owner/owner’s agent of the
animal identified in the Veterinary Certificate, declare that:
1. The animal has been continuously resident in the country
or territory of origin for the past six months prior to export and has
not been in an official quarantine establishment during the
preceding 60 days.
2. The animal will not be more than 42 days pregnant at the
scheduled time of shipment.
3. The animal will be more than nine months old at the
scheduled time of shipment.
4. The animal has been dispatched in a container that meets
I.A.T.A standards.
........................................ ................................
Signature of Owner/Agent  Date
OWNER/AGENT DECLARATION
IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS [ S.L.36.42 11
THIRD SCHEDULE
(Regulation 3 (3))
I, ........................................... , being a Government Veterinarian
at .......................................................... airport certify with respect
to the animal identified in Part I of the Veterinary Certificate that:
1. The animal was inspected and found to be healthy and fit to
travel to Malta.
2. All required documents were examined and found to be
correctly completed in accordance with the Malta conditions of
importation.
3. The animal was placed in a container that meets I.A.T.A.
standards, which was fastened with an official seal having the
marks: ............................................................................................
........................................ ................................
Government Veterinary Officer  Official stamp and date
PORT VETERINARY CERTIFICATE
