G/SPS/N/GBR/15  
 
16 May 2022  
(22-3794) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED KINGDOM  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Scottish 
Government, Welsh Government  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Cats, dogs and ferrets (HS Code: 010619)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Belarus; Poland; Romania; Ukraine  
5. Title of the notified document:  Declaration of special measures for the commercial 
import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania (England)  until 14 May ; 
Declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, 
Belarus, Poland and Romania (Scotland) until 14 May ; Declaration of special measures for 
the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania (Wales) until 
14 May ; Declaration of special measures for the commercial import of animals from 
Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania from 14 May until 9 July (England) ; Declaration of 
special measures for the commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and 
Romania from 14 May until 9 July (Scotland) ; Declaration of special measures for the 
commercial import of animals from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Roma nia from 14 May 
until 9 July (Wales) . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  2 per document, 12 total  
The notified documents are made available here:  
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/imports -and-exports -of-animals -and-animal -products -
topical -issues  
6. Description of content:  The Declaration of special measures for the commercial import 
of certain animals from Belarus, Poland , Romania and Ukraine  temporarily suspends the 
commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets originating from or dispatched from Belarus, 
Poland , Romania and Ukraine. The first Declaration commenced on 14 April to 14 May in 
England and Scotland, and from 27 April to 15 Ma y in Wales. The second Declaration will 
commence from 14 May to 9 July in England, Scotland and Wales. The declarations do not 
apply in relation to the non -commercial movement of pet animals.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [X]  animal health,  [ ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  The ongoing 
situation in Ukraine has led to an unprecedented situation with the movement of pets 
across fluid borders. This has in turn exacerbated the serious animal and human health 
risks posed by rabies, and cases of non -compliant and suspected non -compliant animals 
being imported into Great Britain . Urgent action has been taken to manage these risks.  G/SPS/N/GBR/15  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Ukraine is an 'unlisted' third country for the purposes of pet movements, and rabies is 
endemic. Rabies is still present in Poland, Belarus and Romania, therefore with fluid 
borders and temporary issues  with official controls and suspension of normal compliance 
checks, this has created an increased risk to human and animal health. Therefore, in order 
to maintain the UK's appropriate level of protection, the decision to temporarily suspend 
the commercial movements of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originate from or have been 
dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine was enacted on 14 April 2022 in 
England (15 April 2022 in Scotland), (27 April 2022 in Wales). A further Declaration 
covering the sa me temporary suspension on commercial movements of dogs, cats and 
ferrets originating from or dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine was 
introduced on 14 May to 9 July. This temporary suspension does not extend to 
non-commercial pet animals fr om the listed countries.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) : Chapters 2.1 and 2.2 of the Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this pr oposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
− The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1197)  
− The Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/2379)  
− The Trade in Animals and Related Products (Scotland) Regulations 2012 
(SSI 2012/177)  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
14 April 2022 – 14 May 2022 (England) , 14 April 2022 – 14 May 2022 (Scotland) , 
27 April 2022 – 15 May 2022 (Wales) , 14 May 2022 – 9 July 2022 (England, Scotland, 
Wales)  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
UK SPS Contact Point, Defra, Nobel House, L ondon SW1P 3JR  
E-mail: UKSPS@defra.gov.uk  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
UK SPS Contact Point, Defra, Nobel House, London SW1P 3JR  
E-mail: UKSPS@defra.gov.uk