Moving with parrots overseas

[EugeneM]

Hello -

Because of some unfortunate family circumstances, I am moving from the U.S. to Italy and must learn how to arrange for the transport of my seven parrots. What are the procedures I must follow, and how can I accomplish them?

I have seven parrots: a senegal, a derbian, an african grey, a blue front amazon, an umbrella cockatoo, a military macaw and a blue & gold macaw.

I understand that the documentation needed to transport my birds to Italy is very specific, but I haven't been able to learn exactly what I need to do, or how to do it. Any help you might give me is extremely appreciated!

Thank you,
EugeneM

[The Outlaw]

I'm sorry that I really don't know where to send you other than to suggest the Italian consulate or perhaps U.S. Fish and Wildlife could point you in the right direction.

THE OUTLAW

[smallonion]

Hi Eugene -
I once almost brought my mom's Amazon, Corbett, from the USA to live with me in England. At the last minute, my mom couldn't let Corbett go. However, I had gotten all the right papers etc. In addition to the Italian import requirements (which I don't know about), you also need an export license to take the birds out of the USA. Unfortunatley I don't remember everything because this was a few years ago. One way I found out about the EXPORT requirements was calling the airline I intended to use. They had some answers for me. The export license was easy to get - I filled out the application and they faxed me the license in a few days. I agree with Outlaw that US Fish and Wildlife would be a good starting point.
Best wishes,

[Graehstone]

IMPORT HEALTH REQUIREMENTS OF ITALY
FOR BIRDS AND RABBITS EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES
PSITTACINE BIRDS AND RABBITS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ORIGIN HEALTH
CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY AN ACCREDITED VETERINARIAN AND ENDORSED BY AN
AUTHORIZED FEDERAL VETERINARIAN IN THE STATE OF ORIGIN CERTIFYING:
1. FOR BIRDS NOT ACCOMPANYING A TRAVELER:
ONLY THOSE PSITTACINE BIRDS THAT HAVE RESIDED IN A ZOO FOR THE
PAST 6 MONTHS ARE ELIGIBLE. A STATEMENT THAT THE BIRDS HAVE BEEN
IN A ZOOLO GICAL PARK FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND THAT NO CASES OF
PSITTACOSIS HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN SAID ZOOLOGICAL PARK IN THE PAST
YEAR MUST APPEAR ON THE ORIGIN HEALTH CERTIFICATE.
2. FOR PSITTACINE BIRDS ACCOMPANYING TRAVELERS:
AN IMPORT PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR MORE THAN TWO LARGE PSITTACINE
BIRDS (PARROTS) OR SIX SMALL PSITTACINE BIRDS (PARAKEETS, ETC.). THE
BIRDS WILL BE INSPECTED AT THE ITALIAN FRONTIER AND WILL BE PLACED
IN A 30-DAY HOUSE QUARANTINE AT THE OWNER'S RESIDENCE UNDER THE
SUPERVISION OF LOCAL VETERINARY AUTHORITIES.
IF MORE THAN TWO LARGE OR SIX SMALL PSITTACINE BIRDS ARE IMPORTED
UNDER PERMIT, AN AFFIDAVIT SIGNED BY THE PROVINCIAL VETERINARY
AUTHORITIES STATING THAT PROPER QUARANTINE FACILITIES EXIST FOR
THE QUARANTINE OF THE BIRDS MUST BE PRESENTED AT THE TIME OF
ARRIVAL.
3. FOR RABBITS ACCOMPANYING A TRAVELER:
THE ORIGIN HEALTH CERTIFICATE MUST HAVE A STATEMENT THAT
MYXOMATOSIS HAS NOT OCCURRED ON THE FARM OF ORIGIN OR WITHIN A
50 KILOMETER RADIUS THEREOF IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS.

This was found here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/iregs/animals/it.html

Hope it helps

[smallonion]

Eugene, Here is some info:

A great article on international travel with pet birds (it's from the national finch society so is heavy on finches, but the info is relevant to all pet birds):
http://www.nfss.org/Depts/Eduction/E.../Ser-Pt-1.html

More here:
international.fws.gov/pdf/pe.pdf

Also found this I had saved:
to travel abroad, a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) certificate is required for nearly all parrots. You essentially need a statement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department saying that your pet is not an animal whose status as a pet further endangers the survival of an endangered species."

Regarding Italy, see the following page and scroll down till you find Italy (alphabetical order)

wpsv.wpafb.af.mil/traveling.pdf

also here:

http://www.eustis.army.mil/Veterinary/import.htm

Hope that helps!
Michele and Humph