IMPORTATION OF POULTRY CHICKS AND HATCHING EGGS REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 36.39

IMPORTATION OF POULTRY CHICKS AND

HATCHING EGGS REGULATIONS

22nd April, 1997

LEGAL NOTICE 48 of 1997.

The title of these Regulations is Importation of Poultry

Chicks and Hatching Eggs Regulations.

Rules regulating the Importation of Hatching Eggs and Day Old

Chicks

(1) Hatching eggs shall be individually marked by the

producer using indelible black ink. The mark shall indicate the

establishment of origin and the batch number in figures at least

2mm high and 1mm wide.

(2) Hatching eggs shall be packed in perfectly clean packs

containing only hatching eggs of the same species, category and

type of poultry originating in one establishment and bearing at least

the words "EGGS FOR HATCHING" printed in indelible black ink.

The letters must be at least twenty (20) millimetres high and ten

(10) millimetres wide.

(3) Unmarked hatching eggs may be accepted if these are

packed in perfectly clean packs sealed with a tamper-proof label.

The label shall be marked using indelible black ink in figures at

least twenty (20) millimetres high and ten (10) millimetres wide

and must contain the following information

(a) the number-of hatching eggs;

(b) the species;

(c) the registration number of the establishment of origin;

(d) the name and address of the establishment;

(e) the date of packing.

(4) The packs used for the transport of chicks must contain

chicks of the same species, category and type of poultry produced

by the same hatchery. Each pack must be marked with the

following information

(a) the species;

(b) the country of origin;

(c) the name and address of supplier.

(5) Each consignment of hatching eggs or chicks shall be

accompanied by an import licence and a document showing at least

the following details

(a) name and address of establishment;

(b) its registration number;

(c) number of eggs or chicks sent, classified by species,

category and type;

(d) date of dispatch;

(e) name and address of consignee.

A copy of this document shall be consigned to the

veterinary service division on arrival. The number of chicks and

eggs to be imported shall be limited to hatchery/breeding stock

farm capacity.

(6) Each consignment of hatching eggs or chicks shall be

accompanied by an international zoo sanitary certificate containing

the following information, and any other information or assurances

listed by the veterinary services.

(This certificate as per following model shall be consigned

to the veterinary services division on arrival).

I.

Name of exporting country

Ministry of

Department of

Province, District, etc.

II.

Identification of poultry chicks or hatching eggs

Number

Mark

Species

Breed

III. Origin

Name and address of origin establishment or hatchery

of origin

Name and address of exporter

IV. Destination

Country

Name and address of consignee

Nature and identification of means of transport

Type of containers

V.

The sanitary information required is a certification by

official veterinary that the chicks or eggs come from

an establishment or hatchery which is regularly

inspected and that satisfy the following requirements

IMPORTATION OF POULTRY CHICKS

AND HATCHING EGGS

(a) farm of origin has been free from fowl cholera,

mycoplasmosis and salmonellosis during the 90

days prior to export;

(b) no outbreak of Newcastle disease and fowl

plague has been confirmed in poultry at the farm

of origin or within a radius of 10 kilometres

during the six months prior to export;

(c) eggs have been disinfected according to O.I.E.

procedures;

(d) parent stock is vaccinated using a vaccination

programme approved by the veterinary

authorities of the country of origin;

(e) date and locality of issue;

(f) name and address of veterinarian;

(g) signature and stamp.

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise

requires -

"hatching eggs" means eggs which are intended to be used for

hatching which have been laid by poultry;

"Director" means the Director responsible for the veterinary

service and includes any officer of the department duly authorised

by the Director to act on his behalf;

"poultry chick" means the young offspring of poultry being

under three days old and weighing under 185 grams and that has

not been fed;

"poultry" means fowl, turkeys, geese, ducks, guinea fowls,

domestic and racing pigeons, quails, pheasants and partridges.

Notice of Intention to Import Hatching Eggs or Poultry

Chicks

Name of importer ..............................................................

Name and address of establishment ....................................

Registration Number .........................................................

(II) Notice in respect of Hatching Eggs (Fill in this part if

applicable)

Number to be imported ......................................................

Species

Hen

Duck

Category: ..........................................................................

Type: .................................................................................

(III) Notice in respect of Poultry Chicks (Fill in this part if

applicable)

Number to be imported ......................................................

Species

Fowl

Duck

Turkey

Guinea fowl

Goose

Category

A

Table chicks

B

Egg production chicks

C

Dual purpose chicks

D

Parent stock chicks

E

Grandparent stock chicks

Type: .................................................................................

(IV)

(To be filled in either case)

Country of origin: .............................................................

Name and address of consignee: ........................................

Details of Vessel/Aircraft by means of which to be imported

Anticipated date and time of arrival ....................................

(V) Signature of importer .......................................................

Date and time ....................................................................

(1) Any person who intends to import hatching eggs and

poultry chicks into Malta shall, not later than twenty-four hours

before the proposed time of import, give to the Director a written

notice in the form set out in the Second Schedule to these

Regulations.

(2) The Director may, at his discretion, accept such shorter

notice as he may deem reasonable.

(3) The Director may also order that the quantity of hatching

eggs and poultry chicks to be imported shall be limited to such

number as he may determine after taking into account the capacity

of the importer’s hatchery or breeding stock farm.

(4) The importer may import a smaller quantity than that shown

in the notice mentioned in paragraph (5) of the First Schedule to

these Regulations.

For the purposes of these Regulations the following

categories of chicks shall be distinguished as follows

(a) table chicks (chicks to be fattened and slaughtered

before reaching sexual maturity);

(b) egg production chicks (chicks intended to be reared for

the production of eggs for consumption);

(c) dual purpose chicks;

(d) parent stock chicks (intended for the production of

commercial hatching eggs);

(e) grandparent stock chicks (all chicks

except

commercial or parent stocks chicks).

Whosoever shall import or attempt to import into Malta or

shall sell, expose, keep or offer for sale or otherwise deal in, or

supply to any person in his service under a contractual obligation,

any hatching eggs or poultry chicks in contravention of these

Regulations, or shall obstruct or refuse to permit the inspection,

verification, or the taking of samples, or shall refuse to give any

information or to produce any document required by the controlling

officer or shall otherwise commit any breach of the provisions of

these Regulations, shall be guilty of an offence against the

provisions of Parts II and III of the Prevention of Disease

Ordinance.

Hatching eggs and day old chicks shall satisfy the

conditions set out in the First Schedule to these Regulations.