Transport of Animals (Animal Transporter)

The Veterinary Services grant authorization to transporters, natural or legal persons, provided that:

• The applicant is established in the Republic of Cyprus, or in case of applicant established in a third country, is represented in the Republic of Cyprus;
• The applicant has demonstrated that he/she has sufficient and appropriate staff, equipment and operational procedures at his/her disposal to enable him/her to comply with the legislation. For this purpose the following criteria must be met:
  • All means of transport by road must have valid certificates of approval if they will be used for long journeys or certificates of suitability if they will be used for short journeys.The certificate of approval is issued either by the Veterinary Services or the competent authority of another Member State, whilst the certificate of suitability is issued by the Veterinary Services only;
  • All drivers and attendants carrying out journeys at distances exceeding 65 km from the place of departure to the destination must have valid certificates of competence issued either by the Veterinary Services or by the competent authority of another Member State following the attendance to training courses and passing a relevant examination.
• The applicant or his/her representatives have no record of serious infringements of Community legislation and/or national legislation on the protection of animals in the three years preceding the date of application. This does not apply where the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Veterinary Services that all necessary measures to avoid further infringements have been taken;
• At the time of submission of the application the transporter must have not applied for an authorization to the competent authority of another Member State.

The application for type 1 and type 2 transporter authorization (form ΕΖΜ01 and form ΕΖΜ02 respectively), can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or directly to the District Veterinary Offices and Rural Veterinary Stations of the competent authority :

Veterinary Services
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
1417 Nicosia
Tel: +357 22805249
Fax: +357 22805176
E-mail: director@vs.moa.gov.cy
Website: http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/vs/vs.nsf/index_en/index_en?OpenDocument

Transporters covering distances of up to 65 km from the place of departure to the place of destination are exempt from the requirement for a transporter authorization, but they must submit to the District Veterinary Offices and Local Veterinary Stations a solemn statement for persons transporting animals for distances of up to 65 km from the place of departure to the place of destination (form ΕΖΜ05).

1. The application form must be accompanied by the following documents:

   In the case of an application for a type 1 transporter authorization:

   The application is not accompanied by any documents, except in the following cases:

   (a) The applicant is a legal entity. In this case, a copy of the authorization of the legal representative of the entity must be attached to the application form;

   (b) A means of road transport has a certificate of approval issued by the competent authority of another Member State. In this case, a copy of the certificate must be attached to the application form;

   (c) A driver or attendant holds a certificate of competence issued by the competent authority of another Member State. In this case, a copy of the certificate must be attached to the application form.

   In the case of an application for a type 2 transporter authorization:

   The application is accompanied by a general contingency plan for long journeys (form ΕΖΜ08).

   Beyond this, the application is not accompanied by any other documents, except in the following cases:

   (a) The applicant is a legal entity. In this case, a copy of the authorization of the legal representative of the entity must be attached to the application form;

   (b) A means of road transport has a certificate of approval issued by the competent authority of another Member State. In this case, a copy of the certificate must be attached to the application form;

   (c) A driver or attendant holds a certificate of competence issued by the competent authority of another Member State. In this case, a copy of the certificate must be attached to the application form.

   If the means of transport mentioned in the application form do not have a valid certificate of approval or suitability or the persons mentioned in the application form do not hold a valid certificate of competence, the application cannot be processed.

There are no applicable fees.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such a decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated. However, such a revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

• Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the Protection of Animals during Transport and Related Operations
• The Protection and Welfare of Animals Law of 1994 (46 (I) / 1994)

Authorized transporters must comply with the provisions of the Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the Protection of Animals during Transport and Related Operations and the provisions of the Protection and Welfare of Animals Law.

Transporters must notify in writing the Veterinary Services for any changes in relation to the information and documents submitted with their application within 15 working days from the date the changes took place.

In case that the application submitted contains false information or in the knowledge of the applicant material facts are concealed, the Veterinary Services may proceed to the rejection of an application, deletion from the relevant registry and take all legal measures.