Importing Animals to Brazil
Need to import an animal to Brazil? Bringing exotic species to the country? Then find out in this article what the necessary and legal means are to do so.
The entity responsible for the fiscalization and supervision of animal traffic in Brazil is the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply, known as MAPA or Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. The authorization for animal importation to Brazil is issued by Coordenação de Trânsito e Quarentena Animal, known as CTQA, or by Serviços de Saúde Animal, known as SSAs.
MAPA basically divides the rules for the traffic of living animals in three sections: cats and dogs, other pets with no commercial value, and other wild or exotic animals. This article will explain the required procedures for the two last categories.
It is important to highlight that the imported animals are subject to physical inspection and document checking by a controller associated to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply. Departamento de Saúde Animal or DSA, the Animal Health Department, might also establish some criteria for a possible animal quarantine.
Transportation
The treatment and the rules set by Brazilian’s flight companies to the transport of living animals vary among them. Generally, though, the recommendations are the same:
- Call in the advance for the companies, so they can better instruct you about the required package and identification
- Also, a phone call is needed to make a reservation in advance
- Some animals might not be accepted by each company due to its size, species or purpose
Most of the time, transport conditions for living animals follow the Live Animal Regulation or LAR, a standard set by IATA, or International Air Transport Association. LAR defines the ideal temperature conditions, packaging and accepted animals in each country. The entity’s manual and information guide is sold on their website.
Pets and Animals With No Commercial Value
Neccessary Documents
These are the necessary papers when asking for permission to import animals with no commercial value to Brazil. All of the forms, or formulários, have an identification number. They are issued by MAPA:
- Application for the supervision of pets (Formulário XXIX)
- Prior authorization for animal importation, with the necessary requirements and procedures
- Certificado Zoosanitário Internacional or CZI, which is the International Animal Health Certificate
- Extract of the Import License or Simplified Import License, if applicable
- Copy of the invoice, if applicable
- For animals imported as a load, copy of document acknowledging this condition
Procedures
- Check if all of the animal information, such as color, species, and age, is correctly identified in the documents
- If CZI is not in Portuguese, a translation made by an official sworn translator might be required
- MAPA states that if any documents of the above is missing, the animal must return to its place of origin
- Animals with sanitary impairments will be immediately returned to its place of origin, by the expense of its owner
In case of approval
If all the documents are correct and the animal health conditions are proven good, the following documents will be issued by MAPA:
- Fiscalization Term (Formulário VII), allowing the animal dispatch
- Occurrence Report (Formulário XII)
- Guia de Trânsito Animal or GTA, that will be kept alongside the animal throughout the whole route, from its inspection to its final destination
Wild and Exotic Animals
Any animal that is being imported for commercial use is classified in this category. This includes slaughter, fattening, reproduction and breeding. Also, species to be exposed in zoos or spectacles, or imported for the practice of sports, fit in this section.
Necessary Documents
- Application for the supervision of agricultural products (Formulário V)
- Prior authorization for animal importation, with the necessary requirements and procedures
- Exams and complementary clinical analysis described in the prior authorization
- Certificado Zoosanitário Internacional or CZI, which is the International Animal Health Certificate
- Extract of the Import License or Simplified Import License, if applied
- Copy of the invoice, if applicable
- For animals imported as a load, copy of document acknowledging this condition
- Packing list with the number of species per package
- CITES or Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, if applicable
Procedures
- Circus and Zoo animals will receive special attention, according to MAPA, due to their transport conditions and potential sanitary risks
- Vehicles with one or more sick animals will be considered as a risk, and will be returned to its point of origin
- The unloading of dead animals, their beds or food is prohibited, and must return to the point of origin by the owner expenses
- If CZI is not in Portuguese, a translation made by a sworn translator might be required
- All the approved animals’ objects, such as beds, food and packages must be incinerated after the unloading by the expense of the owner
In case of approval
If all the documents are correct and the animal health conditions are proven good, the following documents will be issued by MAPA:
- Fiscalization Term (Formulário VII), allowing the animal dispatch
- Occurrence Report (Formulário XII)
- Guia de Trânsito Animal or GTA, that will be kept alongside the animal throughout the whole route, from its inspection to its final destination