BRINGING YOUR PETS TO MEXICO

What should you do when traveling to Mexico, or when returning abroad with your pet?

According to laws and regulations in animal health subject, for import purposes, in Mexico only dogs and cats are classified as pets.

The requirements to fit if you are interested in pets import (dog and cats) are the following:

Health Certificate (original and a photocopy); it must be issued by the Federal Authority or by a vet from the origin country. This Health Certificate has to contain:

1)   Name and address of importer and exporter (If importer and exporter is the same person, it is enough address where the pet came and address destination).

2)   Rabies Vaccination (it has to be applied within 12 months prior to export) or submit an immunization record photocopy which has contain vaccination date and kind of vaccine applied (exempted from this requirement animals under three months old).

3)   Medical treatment de-parasited (it has to be applied within 6 months prior to export), and pet has to be free from external and internal parasites.

4)   In the previous inspection to the export, the animal were found healthy clinically

Other requirement to fit at your arrival in the Agricultural Health Inspection Office (OISA):

An Agricultural, Fishing and Aquaculture Health Officer will examine documents and physically the pet in order to check that the pet is free from external parasites, if not, Vet chosen by the owner will apply an antiphrastic treatment and the owner has to pay for this service. Besides, the officer will disinfect the kennel box of the pet.

In order to fit with Articles 24, 32 and 89 fractions I, II, III and VI of the Federal Act on Animal Health. Importation procedure has to be done at the point of entry; you must fit with requirements indicated in this Zoosanitary Requirements Sheet and, in the certificate health and sanitary documents must be indentified with data of the pet, the names and addresses of the exporter and importer, and the destination of the pet.

Explanatory Notes

A)   All kind of pet beds are forbidden; it is only allowed feed for the day that pet arrives.

B)   If the origin country were Mexico, Health Certificate must be issued in the country where the pet comes.

C)   When health certificate doesn’t indicate, 2 and/or 3 requirements of this list, it’s necessary to bring original documents that include rabies vaccination date (12 months prior to export) and antiphrastic treatment (6 months prior to export), and the officer will retain a photocopy after compare it with original document.

D)  Health Certificate must be printed in headed notepaper with professional degree of the vet (or equivalent) or a photocopy of the professional degree of the vet who issued it, this Certificate has to be issued within 5 days prior to export, if certificate were issued before of 5 days, the officer would examine the health status of pet and a vet chosen by the owner will certificate health status and will apply the corresponding treatment if necessary and the owner has to pay for this service.

E)   Importation procedure is free when you import one or two pets (dogs and/or cats), nevertheless, if you import more than two pets you have to pay an Import Zoosanitary Certificate, it costs $1,620.00 MXN and you can pay in a banking module or by internet.

What if you don’t have any document when you arrive to Mexico?

Your pet must remain in the facilities until a vet check and certify the health status of the pet and he or she will apply the rabies vaccine and preventive treatment antiphrastic to continue the process of importation. This can be caused delays and costs to be assumed by the owner.

What if the pet has any infectious disease or pest?

Your pet must remain in the facilities, and the owner has to pay a lab test to prove that the animal has an exotic disease or pest, a vet will apply it the corresponding treatment. If the pest or disease that causes return or slaughter of the pet, the owner has to cover the cost.

What if you trade different species as reptile, ornament or song bird, ferret or turtle?

You will need to fulfill special requirements, established in the Zoosanitary Requirement Sheet (http://148.245.191.4/zooweb/), issued written in the offices of the State Branch Offices of the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock Production, Rural Development, Fishery, and Food, or at the Attention Service desk of the General Head Office of Animal Health located on:

Cuauhtémoc No. 1230, Col. Santa Cruz Atoyac, Del. Benito Juárez CP. 03310, Mexico City (D.F.)

Attention: Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 1 pm

Telephones:
(01 (55) 59051066 y 01 (55) 59051072

For further information, complaints o suggestions about Phytozoosanitary Inspection Service in Ports, Airports and Border, you can go to the following address: Av. Municipio Libre No. 377, Piso 8-A, Col. Santa Cruz Atoyac, Delegación Benito Juárez, México, D.F., C.P. 03310:

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