1.

Notifying Member: UNITED KINGDOM

If applicable, name of local government involved:

2.

Agency responsible: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

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): Dogs (HS code: 0106.19.00.00)

4.

Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:

[ ]      All trading partners

[X]     Specific regions or countries: Romania

5.

Title of the notified document: Declaration of special measures, Romania: The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011(SI 2011/1197); The Trade in Animals and Related Products (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (S.S.I. 2012/177); The Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2379). Language(s): English. Number of pages: 9 pages in total

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68e39f208c1db6022d0ca11d/Declaration_of_special_measures_Romania__England_signed__6.10.25.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68e3b3cbc487360cc70ca14b/Declaration_of_Special_Measures_-_Romania__Wales__6.10.25.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68e39f5c49e17d00a56ffdfc/Declaration_of_Special_Measures__Scotland__-_Romania_-_06_October_2025.pdf

6.

Description of content: This notification concerns a declaration of special measures necessary to prevent the further incursion of Brucella canis (B. canis) to Great Britain (GB).

The measures require mandatory pre-importation testing for B. canis for all commercially imported dogs entering Great Britain which originate in or are dispatched from Romania. A commercially imported dog is 'any movement which has as its aim either the sale or transfer of ownership of a pet dog'. This includes dogs being moved for the purpose of rescue and rehoming.

All commercial imports of dogs originating in or dispatched from Romania must obtain a negative test result for B. canis from the UK approved laboratory 'the Animal and Plant Health Agency Surveillance & Laboratory Services Department' in Weybridge. The importer must provide evidence of the negative laboratory report which must be uploaded into Import of Product, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) and checked by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) before the animal can enter Great Britain.

The measures are necessary to protect animal and human health from disease.

The special measures do not apply in relation to the non-commercial movement of pet animals, nor to the importation of commercial consignments which have been pre-notified via IPAFFS and approved by APHA for travel on or before the date the declaration is made.

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 requirements for the import of dogs into Great Britain from Romania need to be strengthened to manage an urgent biosecurity risk. The biosecurity risk of further incursions of B. canis positive dogs could have significant detrimental animal and human health consequences in Great Britain.

There is evidence that imported dogs from Romania infected with B. canis present a serious risk to animal and human health. Prior to 2020, only three cases of B. canis had been identified in Great Britain, rising to 347 cases in 2024. Figures for this year up until the middle of July show that 189 cases have been identified, of which 101 cases are from dogs originating in Romania. Based on samples received by the National Reference Laboratory at Weybridge, Romania provides the highest total number of identified B. canis-infected dogs of any commercially importing country into Great Britain.

This measure does not extend to non-commercial movements of pet dogs from Romania.

The safeguard will be kept under regular review based on the best available data to make sure it remains proportionate.

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 1.3 and 5.3 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code

[ ]        International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number):

[ ]        None

Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?

[ ] Yes   [X] No

If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard: The safeguard measure deviates from the relevant international standard because B. canis is not a WOAH listed disease. However, the measure conforms to Article 5.3.1 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code as Members may choose to implement sanitary measures more stringent than those in international standards when it is deemed necessary to protect animal or human health and is scientifically justified by a risk analysis.

10.

Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:

-_        Declarations can be accessed hereunder the heading 'Declaration of special measures: Romania Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues - GOV.UK

-_        Guidance can be found here: Brucella canis: testing dogs before import - GOV.UK

(available in English)

11.

Date of entry into force (dd/mm/yy)/period of application (as applicable): 7 October 2025

[ ]      Trade facilitating measure

12.

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

UK WTO SPS National Notification Authority and Enquiry Point

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Seacole Building

2 Marsham St.

London SW1P 4DF

E-mail: uksps@defra.gov.uk

Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

13.

Text(s) available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

UK WTO SPS National Notification Authority and Enquiry Point

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Seacole Building

2 Marsham St.

London SW1P 4DF

E-mail: uksps@defra.gov.uk

Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs