International Pet Transport Glossary: Every Term You Will Encounter Explained

Pet transport documentation is full of acronyms and official terminology that can feel deliberately obscure. It isn’t - these are precise technical terms that refer to specific regulations, tests, and authorities. Knowing what they mean helps you follow the documentation trail and spot errors before they become expensive.

A

AHC (Animal Health Certificate): The document replacing EU pet passports for UK pets travelling to the EU. Issued by an OV, valid for 10 days for EU entry, 4 months for onward EU travel.

APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency): UK government veterinary authority. Endorses export health certificates, approves Official Veterinarians, maintains approved laboratory lists.

APQA (Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency): South Korea’s pet import authority. Issues import permits and manages quarantine.

AVS (Animal and Veterinary Service): Singapore’s pet import authority, part of the National Parks Board (NParks).

B

BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry): Philippines’ pet import authority.

BAPHIQ (Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine): Taiwan’s pet import authority.

BICON (Biosecurity Import Conditions database): Australia’s DAFF database of import conditions. Search BICON to find the exact current requirements for your specific animal’s origin country.

C

CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency): Canada’s pet import authority.

Cold chain: The requirement to maintain a specific temperature range (typically 2-8°C) during transportation of biological samples (e.g., titre test blood samples) from your vet to the laboratory.

D

DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry): Australia’s pet import authority. Issues import permits, manages Mickleham quarantine.

DLD (Department of Livestock Development): Thailand’s pet import authority.

DVS (Department of Veterinary Services): Malaysia’s pet import authority.

E

EHC (Export Health Certificate): UK government export document for animals. Each destination country has a specific EHC form. Issued by an OV, endorsed by APHA.

F

FAVN (Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralisation): One of two approved methods for the rabies titre test. Measures the level of virus-neutralising antibodies in your pet’s blood. The other method is RFFIT.

I

IATA (International Air Transport Association): Sets the Live Animal Regulations (LAR) that airlines worldwide use for pet transport. IATA LAR specifies crate requirements, handling, and documentation.

IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association): Voluntary industry body for pet transport agents. IPATA membership indicates commitment to a code of conduct.

L

LAR (Live Animal Regulations): IATA’s rulebook for transporting animals by air. Updated annually. Specifies crate construction, labelling, handling, and documentation requirements.

M

MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries): Japan’s pet import authority. Operates the Animal Quarantine Service (AQS).

Mickleham: The Post Entry Quarantine facility in Victoria, Australia, where all imported dogs and cats must serve their mandatory quarantine period.

MOCCAE (Ministry of Climate Change and Environment): UAE’s pet import authority.

O

OV (Official Veterinarian): A UK vet authorised by APHA to issue Export Health Certificates. Holds the OCQ (Official Controls Qualification) for the relevant trade certificate.

R

RFFIT (Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test): One of two approved methods for the rabies titre test, alongside FAVN.

RNAT (Rabies Neutralising Antibody Test): Generic term for the titre test. Also called FAVN, RFFIT, or simply the titre test depending on which method is used.

T

Titre test: See RNAT, FAVN, RFFIT. A blood test measuring the level of rabies virus-neutralising antibodies. The threshold for most destination countries is ≥0.5 IU/mL.

U

USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service): USA’s agricultural authority, including pet import/export. Accredits US vets to issue export health certificates and endorses those certificates for international use.

Data current as of {TODAY}.