DRAFT  E-1 / 120413 
 
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HORSE39-1 (12042013)-DRAFT.DOC  REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE 
 
THE ANIMALS AND BIRDS ACT (CHAP.7) 
 
VETERINARY CONDITIONS FOR THE IMPORTATION OF 
HORSES (1/3)   
 
 
 
I COUNTRY OF EXPORT 
 Argentina, Australia , Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, I reland, Japan, Malaysia, 
New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Northern Ireland) and United States 
of America. 
II PURPOSE 
 Racing, polo or equestrian 
III  IMPORT LICENCE 
 Each consignment of horses shall be accompanied by  a valid import licence issued by the Agri-Food and  
Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore.  
IV VETERINARY CERTIFICATION 
 Each horse shall be accompanied by an equine passp ort, or equivalent thereof which is approved by 
the AVA, and a veterinary health certificate dated not more than 7 days prior to export and signed or 
endorsed by the competent Veterinary Authority of t he country of export describing the age, breed, sex , 
colour, markings or other points of identification,  and the name and address of the premises of origin  of 
each horse, and certifying to the effect that:  
 (i) the country has been free from African horse sickness  for the last 2 years prior to the date of 
export, and no vaccination is permitted in  the cou ntry against this disease, 
 (ii) the country has been free from  Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis  for the last 2 years prior to 
the date of export, and no vaccination is permitted  in the country against this disease OR   no case 
of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis has occurred  in the country for the last 2 years prior to the 
date of export, 
 (iii) the country has been free from  Eastern  and Western equine encephalomyelitis  for the last 2 
years  prior to the date of export, and no vaccinat ion is permitted in the country against these 
diseases  OR  the horse has been vaccinated within 12 months but  not within 30 days of export 
against Eastern and Western equine encephalomyeliti s with inactivated vaccines approved by the 
Veterinary Authority of the country of export, 
 (iv) the country has been free from glanders for the last 2 years prior to the date of  export OR  the 
horse was tested with mallein with negative result( s) within 15 days of export, 
 (v) the country has been free from  trypanosomes  for the last 12 months prior to date of export OR  no 
case of Surra and Dourine has occurred in horses in  the country for the last 12 months prior to the 
date of export OR  the horse was tested for  Trypanosoma evansi  by enzyme-linked 
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or haematological conce ntration methods with negative results 
within 30 days of export AND  the horse was tested for Trypanosoma equiperdum  by the 
complement fixation test with negative results with in 15 days of export, 
 (vi) the country has been free from contagious equine metritis  for the last 12 months prior to the date 
of export OR  the horse has never been mated or is gelded OR  the horse was tested for contagious 
equine metritis by 3 samples taken at intervals not  less than 7 days apart for  bacterial culture with 
negative results  within 30 days of export, 
 (vii) the country has been free from equine infectious anaemia  for the last 12 months prior to date of 
export OR the horse was tested for equine infectious anemia b y the immunodiffusion (Coggin’s) test 
with negative results within 30 days of export,   
 (viii) the country has been  free from equine viral arteritis  for the last 12 months prior to date of export 
OR  the horse was tested for equine viral arteritis by  the serum neutralisation tests with negative 
results, or with stable or declining antibody titre s at dilution of 1 in 4, twice 14 days apart, withi n 30 
days of export,  
 (ix)  the country has been free from equine piroplasmosis  for the past 12 months OR  the horse was 
treated with an approved long-acting broad spectrum  parasiticide effective against ticks 
immediately following the taking of the blood sampl e, which was subjected to a fluorescent antibody 
test (IFAT) for equine piroplasmosis with negative results within 30 days of export,   DRAFT  E-2 / 120413 
 
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HORSE39-1 (12042013)-DRAFT.DOC  (x) (a) the country has been free from rabies  in the past 2 years OR  
 (b) (1) during the 6 months prior to export, the h orse has not suffered from or been exposed to 
nor been in premises infected with rabies, and 
(2) the horse has not been vaccinated against rabie s OR  was vaccinated against rabies 
using an approved vaccine not less than 30 days and  not more than 12 months prior to 
export, 
 (xi) no case of Hendra-virus infection  has been reported in horses in the country for the  last 3 
months prior to export OR  if Hendra-virus infection  were reported, the horse will be subjected to 
a pre-export quarantine for 21 days  continuously prior to export, under veterinary sup ervision and 
the horse has been tested for Hendra virus infectio n by ELISA test with negative results within 14 
days  prior to export, 
(xii) no case of Nipah virus infection  has been reported in horses in the country for the  last 2 years 
prior to the date of export OR  no case of Nipah virus infection  has been reported in horses in the 
country for the past 6 months, or such other period  as may be specified by AVA, prior to the date 
of export and the horse has undergone two 2 weeks’ pre-export isolation at premises approved 
by AVA and tested during pre-export isolation for N ipah virus infection with negative results prior 
to export, 
(xiii) During the 90 days prior to export, the hors e has not suffered from or been exposed to nor been  
in premises infected with Equine Influenza (EI) , and was vaccinated against EI according to 
manufacturer’s recommendation with an inactivated o r recombinant vaccine approved by the 
country of export, between 21 and 90 days before sh ipment either with a primary course or a 
booster. 
(xiv) all  tests were carried out in a laboratory a pproved by the Veterinary Authority of the country of 
export and AVA, 
(xv) the horses had been resident in the country of  export continuously for at least 3 months 
immediately prior to export,  
(xvi) during the 3 months prior to export, the hors e has not suffered from or been exposed to nor been  
in premises infected with any condition or disease including the following: equine infectious 
anaemia, equine viral encephalomyelitis, horse pox,  scabies, anthrax, glanders, dourine, surra, 
strangles, epizootic lymphangitis, ulcerative lymph angitis, equine rhinopneumonitis, equine viral 
arteritis, equine piroplasmosis, equine influenza, vesicular stomatitis, Getah virus infection, 
Hendra virus infection, Nipah virus infection, West  Nile virus infection or any other disease of 
horses notifiable in the country of export, 
(xvii) the horse was treated with an approved long- acting broad spectrum parasiticide effective agains t 
ticks and a broad spectrum anthelminthic  within 14  days of export, 
(xviii) the horse had not been vaccinated with any vaccine within 30 days of export  OR   the horse had 
been vaccinated within 30 days with a vaccine or va ccines approved by AVA (submit name and 
purpose of vaccine and date of vaccination), and 
(xix) the horse had been examined and was found cli nically healthy and free from external parasites an d 
any clinical signs of infectious or contagious dise ase at time of export. 
V DECLARATION FROM MASTER/CAPTAIN OF SHIP/AIRCRAFT 
 Each consignment of horses shall be accompanied by  a signed declaration from the master/captain of th e 
ship/aircraft in which the horses were carried stat ing that: 
 (i) the horses had been embarked or emplaned in th e country of export (which country is to be 
named in the declaration) and had not been landed a t any intermediate port (unless it is an 
approved stopover ports at Part XII) during the voy age or flight to Singapore; 
 (ii) no horse from another country was carried in the ship/aircraft during the time that the horses t o 
which such declaration refers were on board the shi p/aircraft (unless prior approval obtained from 
AVA), 
 (iii) no fodder from another country was carried i n the ship/aircraft during the time that the horses  to 
which such declaration refers were on board the shi p/aircraft (unless prior approval obtained from 
AVA), 
(iv) in a case where the country of export or any o ther approved intermediate port at which the 
aircraft carrying the horses had made a stopover ca nnot be certified as being free from 
Venezuelan, Western and Eastern equine encephalomye litis, trypanosomiasis, equine infectious 
anemia or piroplasmosis,  the interior of the aircr aft carrying the horses had been sprayed with an 
approved insecticide just prior to its departure fr om the country of export and any such approved 
intermediate port, and on landing in Singapore.  
(v) in a case where the aircraft has stopped at an intermediate port not approved by AVA as a 
stopover port but for refuelling purpose, the cargo  hold where the horses are carried in the  DRAFT  E-3 / 120413 
 
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HORSE39-1 (12042013)-DRAFT.DOC  aircraft had not been opened during the entire time  of its refuelling stop and the interior of the 
aircraft carrying the horses had been sprayed with an approved insecticide just prior to its arrival 
at the port and also prior to departure from the po rt.  
VI QUARANTINE   
 (i) All imported horses shall be quarantined for a  period of not less than 14 days and may be subject ed 
to testing and treatment before release from quaran tine. 
 (ii) In addition, horses from Sabah and Sarawak ar e subject to a mallein test with negative results w hile 
in quarantine and horses from Argentina, Canada, Un ited Arab Emirates and the United States of 
America shall not be taken out of mosquito-proof st ables within the first 10 days of arrival. 
 (iii) The owner of the horses or his agent is resp onsible for ensuring that quarantine space is avail able.  
VII APPLICATION FOR IMPORT LICENCE   
 The owner or his agent must apply for the import l icence by submitting an online application through 
AVA’s website (www.ava.gov.sg>Services>AVAe-Service s>Animals&Pet Sector>Licence to 
Import/Export/Transship of Animals/Birds/Eggs/Biolo gics) 30 days prior to the arrival of animals. The 
applicant must indicate the route of travel, includ ing any stopover or refueling stops, at the time of  
application. 
VIII  NOTIFICATION OF ARRIVAL   
 The owner of the horse or his agent shall contact the Quarantine Office as stated in the Import Licen ce at 
least five (5) working days before the arrival of t he animal.  
IX VETERINARY INSPECTION   
 On arrival at the port of disembarkation in Singap ore, the horses and documents (namely, the Import 
Licence, the Veterinary Health Certificate and the Master’s/Captain's Declaration) shall be presented to 
and examined by an authorised Veterinary Officer.  If the consignment of horses is found to be healthy  
and documents are in order, the horses shall be all owed entry into Singapore for quarantine at AVA-
approved premises. 
X  PENALTY   
 If any animal is not healthy or if any document is  not in order, the animals can be quarantined for a  further 
30 days or destroyed/returned or re-exported at the  discretion of the Director-General of Agri-Food an d 
Veterinary Services. In addition the owner of the a nimal or his agent is subject to prosecution. 
XI FEES   
(i) Import Licence ) see Fee  Schedule:  Attachment -2 
(ii) Quarantine fee  ) 
XII OTHER REQUIREMENTS/INFORMATION     
(i) Stopover of aircraft at all Australian airports , all Canadian airports, Amsterdam, Anchorage, 
Bahrain, Basel, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Copenhag en, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, 
Honolulu, London, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, Manchest er, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Taipei, 
Tokyo, Vienna and Zurich may be permitted. 
(ii) All mares destined for Singapore must not be p regnant.  Any pregnant mare as well as in-contact 
material may be detained in quarantine or returned to the country of origin at the 
importer’s/exporter’s expense. 
(iii) It is the responsibility of the owner of the horses or his agent to ensure that quarantine space  is 
available before importing the horses. 
(iv) Any expenditure incurred in the process of imp ortation of the horse shall be borne by the owner o f 
the horses or his agent. 
(v) If a horse dies or is destroyed while under the  custody of AVA, AVA will not be liable for any 
compensation. 
(vi) Horses must be kept in places licensed by the Director-General of Public Health, Ministry of the 
Environment and Water Resources, Singapore. 
(vii) Regulations and fees are subject to change wi thout notice notwithstanding the issuance of a lice nce 
by AVA. 
(viii) Horses should be transported in accordance w ith the latest recommendations of the Office 
International des Epizooties (OIE) International An imal Health Code and the International Air 
Transport Association’s Live Animal Regulations.  DRAFT  E-4 / 120413 
 
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HORSE39-1 (12042013)-DRAFT.DOC  (ix) Application for import from any other country other than those listed in (I) should be made to AV A 
through the competent veterinary authority of the c ountry of export at least 6 months prior to date of  
intended export to Singapore.  The competent veteri nary authority should also submit relevant 
details on its veterinary infrastructure, organisat ional structure and manpower strength, professional  
qualifications of its veterinary services personnel , veterinary laboratory diagnostic capabilities, 
national disease surveillance programmes, point of entry control capabilities, compulsorily notifiable  
diseases and current status of OIE-listed diseases in the country. 
 
 
 
 
ISSUED BY:  
GROUP DIRECTOR, REGULATORY ADMINISTRATION GROUP 
AGRI-FOOD AND VETERINARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE 
5 MAXWELL ROAD #18-00 
TOWER BLOCK, MND COMPLEX 
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE 069110 
 APPLICATION/ENQUIRIES : 
GROUP DIRECTOR, QUARANTINE & INSPECTION GROUP 
AGRI-FOOD AND VETERINARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE 
5 MAXWELL ROAD #02-03 
TOWER BLOCK, MND COMPLEX 
REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE 069110 
E-mail:  AVA_Import&Export_Animals@ava.gov.sg 
 
 
 
 
12 Apr 2013  
  
 
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HORSE39-1 (12042013)-DRAFT.DOC  DECLARATION BY CAPTAIN /AUTHORISED AIRLINE STAFF  OF 
AIRCRAFT CARRYING LIVE HORSES FOR IMPORTATION INTO 
SINGAPORE 
 
For temporary  importation of horses from Argentina, Australia, C anada, Denmark France, Germany, Hong 
Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Macau SAR, Malaysi a, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdo m 
and the United States of America (not required when  travelling by road). 
OR 
For permanent  importation of horses from Argentina, Australia , Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong 
Kong SAR, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Un ited Arab Emirates, United Kingdom (Great Britain, 
Northern Ireland) and United States of America. 
OR 
For importation of Singapore horses returning from international races  from Argentina, Australia, Canada, 
Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, I taly, Japan, Macau SAR, Malaysia, New Zealand, 
United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United Sta tes of America (not required if travelling by road) . 
 
 
I, ______________________ (Name), Captain / Authori sed Airline Staff of _____________________ 
(Flight No.), do hereby declare that: 
 
(i) the horses had been embarked or emplaned in the  country of export (to state the name of the countr y) 
and had not been landed at any intermediate port (u nless it is an approved stopover ports at Part XII)  
during the voyage or flight to Singapore; 
Name of country of export: ________________________ _____ 
 
*Name of intermediate port (if any): ______________ ________   
 
(*please delete accordingly) 
 
 (ii) no horse from another country was carried in the ship/aircraft during the time that the horses t o which 
such declaration refers were on board the ship/airc raft (unless prior approval obtained from AVA), 
 
(iv) no fodder from another country was carried in the ship/aircraft during the time that the horses t o which 
such declaration refers were on board the ship/airc raft (unless prior approval obtained from AVA). The  
use of hay or straw bedding during transport is pro hibited; treated wood shavings, sterilised peat and  soft 
boards may be used, 
 
(v) the interior of the aircraft carrying the horse s had been sprayed with an approved insecticide jus t prior to 
its departure from the country of export, the appro ved intermediate port(s), and on landing in Singapo re 
(only applicable for exporting countries and  stopo ver(s) at approved intermediate port(s) in countrie s 
which cannot certify country freedom against Venezu elan, Western and Eastern equine 
encephalomyelitis, trypanosomiasis, equine infectio us anemia or piroplasmosis),  
 
(vi) in a case where the aircraft has stopped at an  intermediate port not approved by AVA as a stopove r port 
but for refuelling purpose, the cargo hold where th e horses are carried in the aircraft had not been 
opened during the entire time of its refuelling sto p and the interior of the aircraft carrying the hor ses had 
been sprayed with an approved insecticide just prio r to its arrival at the port and also prior to depa rture 
from the port.  
 
 
(07 Sep 2011) Name of Declarant: 
 
 
Signature: 
 
 
Rank: 
 
Date & Time: Insert Official Stamp here:  
 
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HORSE39-1 (12042013)-DRAFT.DOC   DATE : 
  
VETERINARY  HEALTH  CERTIFICATE 
FOR  THE  IMPORTATION  OF  HORSES 
 
For the importation of horses from Argentina, Austr alia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong S AR, 
Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States of Ameri ca 
 
 
Exporting country  : ______________________________ __________________________ 
 
Ministry   : ______________________________________ __________________ 
 
Department  : _____________________________________ ___________________ 
 
Province or District : ____________________________ ____________________________ 
 
 
SECTION 1 IDENTIFICATION OF THE HORSE 
 
Name Year of Birth  Sex Colour Breed/ Description/ Passport number 
 
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SECTION 2 ORIGIN OF THE HORSE 
 
Name and address of exporter/owner*:        
*Please delete accordingly 
                                        
 
              
Name and address of premise of origin of horse:            
 
 
 
 
 
SECTION 3 DESTINATION OF THE HORSE 
 
Country of destination:    
 
 
 
Name and address of consignee:  
 
 
 
 
AVA Import Permit Number:   
 
 
 
Nature and identification:    
of Means of Transport   
 
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HORSE39-1 (12042013)-DRAFT.DOC  SECTION 4 CERTIFICATION 
 
I hereby certify the following (please tick, write Not Applicable (NA) or indicate  the date of testing/vaccination in the 
column on the right where appropriate):  
 
I The country has been free from African horse sickness  for the last 2 years prior to the 
date of export, and no vaccination is permitted in the country against this disease. 
  
II The country has been free from  Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis  for the last 2 
years prior to the date of export, and no vaccinati on is permitted in the country against this 
disease OR    
  
no case of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis has occurred in the country for the last 2 
years prior to the date of export. 
  
III The country has been free from  Eastern  and Western equine encephalomyelitis  for 
the last 2 years  prior to the date of export, and no vaccination is permitted in the country 
against these diseases  OR  
  
the horse has been vaccinated within 12 months but not within 30 days of export against 
Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis with i nactivated vaccines approved by the 
Veterinary Authority of the country of export. 
 Date of 
vaccination:  
IV The country has been free from glanders for the last 2 years prior to the date of  export 
OR  
  
the horse was tested with mallein with negative res ult(s) within 15 days of export. 
 Date of test: 
V The country has been free from  trypanosomes  for the last 12 months prior to date of 
export OR   
  
no case of Surra and Dourine has occurred in horses  in the country for the last 12 months 
prior to the date of export OR  
  
the horse was tested for  Trypanosoma evansi  by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 
(ELISA) or haematological concentration methods wit h negative results within 30 days of 
export AND  the horse was tested for Trypanosoma equiperdum  by the complement 
fixation test with negative results within 15 days of export. 
 Date of test: 
VI The country has been free from contagious equine metritis  for the last 12 months prior 
to the date of export OR  
  
the horse has never been mated or is gelded OR   
  
the horse was tested for contagious equine metritis  by 3 samples taken at intervals not 
less than 7 days apart for  bacterial culture wi th negative results  within 30 days of export.  Date of test: 
VII The country has been free from equine infectious anaemia  for the last 12 months prior 
to date of export OR  
  
the horse was tested for equine infectious anemia b y the immunodiffusion (Coggin’s) test 
with negative results within 30 days of export.   
 Date of test: 
VIII The country has been  free from equine viral arteritis  for the last 12 months prior to date 
of export OR  
  
the horse was tested for equine viral arteritis by the serum neutralisation tests with 
negative results, or with stable or declining antib ody titres at dilution of 1 in 4, twice 14 
days apart, within 30 days of export. 
 Date of test:  
 
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HORSE39-1 (12042013)-DRAFT.DOC   
IX The country has been free from equine piroplasmosis  for the past 12 months OR  
  
the horse was treated with an approved long-acting broad spectrum parasiticide 
effective against ticks immediately following the t aking of the blood sample, which was 
subjected to a fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for  equine piroplasmosis with negative 
re sults within 30 days of export.  Date of test: 
X The country has been free from rabies  in the past 2 years OR  
  
during the 6 months prior to export, the horse has not suffered from or been exposed to 
nor been in premises infected with rabies, and 
a) the horse has not been vaccinated against rabies *  
OR   
b) was vaccinated against rabies using an approved vaccine not less than 30 days and 
not more than 12 months prior to export*. 
 
*Please delete accordingly 
 Date of 
vaccination (if 
applicable):  
XI No case of Hendra-virus infection  has been reported in horses in the country for the  
last 3 months prior to export OR  
  
if Hendra-virus infection  were reported, the horse will be subjected to a pr e-export 
quarantine for 21 days  continuously prior to export, under veterinary sup ervision and 
the horse has been tested for Hendra virus infectio n by ELISA test with negative 
results within 14 days  prior to export, 
 Date of test: 
XII No case of Nipah virus infection  has been reported in horses in the country for the  last 
2 years prior to the date of export OR  
  
no case of Nipah virus infection  has been reported in horses in the country for the  
past 6 months, or such other period as may be speci fied by AVA, prior to the date of 
export and the horse has undergone two 2 weeks’ pre -export isolation at premises 
approved by AVA and tested during pre-export isolat ion for Nipah virus infection with 
negative results prior to export. 
  
XIII During the 90 days prior to export, the horse has not suffered from or been exposed to 
nor been in premises infected with Equine Influenza (EI) , and was vaccinated against 
EI according to manufacturer’s recommendation with an inactivated or recombinant 
vaccine approved by the country of export, between 21 and 90 days before shipment 
either with a primary course or a booster. 
  
XIV All tests were carried out in a laboratory appr oved by the Veterinary Authority of the 
country of export and AVA. 
  
XV The horses had been resident in the country of e xport continuously for at least 3 months 
immediately prior to export. 
  
XVI During the 3 months prior to export, the horse has not suffered from or been exposed to 
nor been in premises infected with any condition or  disease including the following: 
equine infectious anaemia, equine viral encephalomy elitis, horse pox, scabies, anthrax, 
glanders, dourine, surra, strangles, epizootic lymp hangitis, ulcerative lymphangitis, 
equine rhinopneumonitis, equine viral arteritis, eq uine piroplasmosis, equine influenza, 
vesicular stomatitis, Getah virus infection, Hendra  virus infection, Nipah virus infection, 
West Nile virus infection or any other disease of h orses notifiable in the country of export. 
  
XVII The horse was treated with an approved long-ac ting broad spectrum parasiticide effective 
against ticks and a broad spectrum anthelminthic wi thin 14 days of export. 
   
 
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HORSE39-1 (12042013)-DRAFT.DOC   
XVIII The horse had not been vaccinated with any vaccine within 30 days of export  OR   
the horse had been vaccinated within 30 days with a  vaccine or vaccines approved by 
AVA (submit name and purpose of vaccine and date of  vaccination). 
 
Name of vaccine: _________________________________ 
 
Purpose of vaccine: _______________________________  
 
Date of vaccination: ______________________________ _ 
  
XIX The horse had been examined and was found clini cally healthy and free from external 
parasites and any clinical signs of infectious or c ontagious disease at time of export. 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
I, ________________________________________________ _________________ (Name in BLOCK LETTERS), 
the undersigned veterinarian, being an Official gov ernment veterinarian of 
________________________________(the country of exp ort), certify in respect of the horse described abo ve that 
I have no reason to doubt the truthfulness of the i nformation given in Sections 1 to 4 and am satisfie d to the best of 
my ability that the horse certified above meets wit h the requirements for importation into Singapore. 
 
 
 
Signature: ___________________________________ Date : ________________________    
         (day/month/year)  
Name of official government veterinarian:  
___________________________________________________ ______ 
Designation:  
___________________________________________________ _____ 
 
Address, telephone, fax, email contact:      Offici al Stamp: 
___________________________________________________ ______ 
___________________________________________________ ______ 
___________________________________________________ ______ 
 
 
 
(12042013)