Together with the Polish National Veterinary Chamber, there are also organised inland activities involving clinical examinations, implantation of transponders and vaccination of companion animals, whose owners - refugees, for various reasons, had no possibility of securing their animals when crossing the border.

The Veterinary Inspectorate would like to remind that uncontrolled imports of animals to Poland may result in serious increase in the risk of infectious diseases in animals or humans (so-called zoonotic diseases), which are no longer present in Poland or in its large area, but are present, inter alia, across our eastern border. These may include diseases with disastrous consequences for animal breeding or for wild fauna.

Animal transport procedures

On the first day of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, i.e. on 24 February 2022, special procedures were implemented for the entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland of refugees with their pets, including dogs, cats and ferrets, up to 5 animals. On the Polish initiative, actions of the Polish veterinary service have been synchronised with other European Union Member States and the European Commission. They are aimed to combine the smoothest possible movement of people from a country affected by an armed conflict with the highest possible level of epizootic and epidemiological protection of Poland and other EU countries.

The procedures for imports of dogs, cats or ferrets are based on additionally simplified derogations contained in Article 32 of Regulation (EU) No. 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals.

Imports of rodents such as guinea pigs, mice or laboratory rats or pet rabbits are currently not subject to any restrictions.

Imports of livestock and species of wild fauna are subject to pan-European regulations and all veterinary requirements for their cross-border movement must be met. Any changes to the rules for their imports into Poland need to be agreed with the veterinary authorities of Ukraine, including their involvement in the organisation of such transports.

Working seven days a week

Currently all poviat (district), border and voivodship veterinarians as well as the staff and management of the General Veterinary Inspectorate work on standby seven days a week. This is due to the need to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza and African swine fever occurring in our country and to secure Poland's eastern border. All border crossings with Ukraine are still in operation for import controls of foodstuffs, feed and other animal species entering the EU.

We constantly cooperate with the European Commission to increase the flexibility of EU rules related to health guarantees for imported animals. It should be born in mind that crossing the Polish border means the possibility of further travel to other EU countries without additional checks, which results in a need to closely coordinate actions and enforced requirements, rather than to make not consulted, unilateral decisions affecting the entire Community.

Cooperation with Ukraine

Chief Veterinary Officer is in regular contact with the veterinary authorities of Ukraine. This is aimed to coordinate actions both in terms of cooperation between both services in the ongoing export and import of certain goods and in organising evacuation of certain animals indicated by the Ukrainian authorities.

It is a priority to secure human health and life

The priority of actions undertaken by all Polish services, including veterinary services, is to secure the health and lives of people, both those fleeing from war and the inhabitants of our homeland. While bearing in mind the need to take care of animals in Ukraine, we cannot lose sight of the risks associated with an uncontrolled inflow of animals and the possible negative actions of people who are not guided by humanitarian motives and want to gain financial benefits from the current situation. We monitor and verify such situations.