IATA Guidelines

Reprinted from: International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Live Animals Regulations, 21st Edition, Effective 1 October 1994.

When constructing containers for shipment of birds, the normal habits and necessary freedom of movement must be considered.

For general transport purposes, birds will be carried only in closed containers. The container must be well constructed and be able to withstand other freight damaging it or causing the structure to buckle or collapse. It must be constructed of non-toxic materials. Chemically impregnated wood may be poisonous and must not be used.

The container must be suitable to keep the bird inside at all times and protect the bird from unauthorized access. The door must be constructed so that accidental opening cannot occur, either from the inside or the outside.

The container must not cause the bird to damage itself. All inside edges must be smooth or rounded. There must be no sharp projections, such a nails, upon which the bird can injure itself. Joints of a wooden container must be made so that they cannot be damaged by a bird’s beak or claw from the inside.

Wooden perches must be provided for birds that rest by perching. There must be sufficient perch space for each bird inside the container and enough height for the bird to perch with its head upright and its tail clear of the floor. The diameter of the perch must be large enough to permit the bird to maintain a firm, comfortable grip with its claws. The perches must be placed so that droppings do not fall into the food and water troughs, or onto other perching birds. Non-perching birds must be able to stand upright except in the case of pheasants.

The container must be clean and leak-proof. If it is being reused, it must be thoroughly disinfected or sterilized. Absorbent bedding must be provided by the shipper that is suitable for the species. Straw is unacceptable as many countries prohibit its importation.

Handles and/or spacer bars must be provided to facilitate handling and preventing the ventilation openings becoming blocked by other freight.

If forklift spacers are required they must be at least 5 cm (2 in) thick. Allowance for the extra height must be made when calculating the dimensions of the container.

Dimensions of containers shown in the Regulations are illustrative and therefore must be related to the actual size of the bird for which the container is constructed. Quantities of birds must be limited to permit sufficient perch space so that each bird can perch at the same time.

The container must be adequately ventilated on at least three sides, with the majority of the ventilation being provided on the upper part of the container. There are exceptions to these requirements which are stated in the specific container requirement for that particular species.

The ventilation openings must be small enough or baffled to prevent the egress of the bird and to avoid any part of the bird to protrude from the container. When ventilation openings are to be covered with wire mesh, the edges must have suitable protection to prevent injury to the birds. For small birds, all the openings must be covered with wire mesh.

Separate food and water troughs must be provided, either fixed inside the container or attached to it so that they are accessible for replenishment purposes. They must have rounded edges and be made of non-toxic material suitable for the species. Their ends and sides must have a flange to prevent spillage of water and food. Precautions must be taken to reduce the risk of drowning by floating a sponge or other suitable material on the surface of the water in the trough. Soldered tin water containers may be poisonous and must not be used.

Shipper’s instruction for feeding and watering must be given in writing at the time of acceptance. Feeding and watering instructions must be affixed to the container and a copy of the instructions must accompany the shipping documents. Any feed or water given must be recorded on the container instructions with the date and time of supply.

Food must be provided by the shipper, but it must be checked that it does not contravene any regulations of the country(ies) of transit or importation. In the case of sealed container, feeding is not possible and the shipper must be aware of this fact. Likewise, products of animal origin, such as meat or food containing meat, must not be accepted inside the container for the same reason.

The container must be correctly labeled and marked with the consignee’s name, address and telephone number. Labels must not block ventilation holes, especially on small containers.

For species which are obviously disturbed by the shipment, reducing the light within the container and the noise level within its vicinity will usually be sufficient to quieten the bird. They must be held in a darkened area with as little noise as possible nearby.

Many bird species including all parrots are listed in the CITES appendices (see 6.2). It is imperative that the appropriate CITES documentation is completed before acceptance of shipment. Such documents must accompany the shipment as well as the usual shipper’s and health certification, export and import permits or licences. All CITES controlled species must be packed in accordance with the IATA Live Animals Regulations. See Chapter 11 for CITES requirements.

It is also a legal requirement by many governments that have incorporated the Regulations into their National Legislation in regards of the shipment of live animals by air. Therefore care must be taken that compliance is evident at the time of live animal shipment acceptance.

Basic requirements applicable to all species of birds. See Exceptions CNG-01, GBG-10 and USG-01 in Chapter 2

Note 2: For individual or small shipments of birds see Container Requirement 23.

Wire mesh, wood, non-toxic plastic, fibreglass, synthetics and muslin or other light material.

The following principles of design must be met in addition to the General Container Requirements outlined at the beginning of this chapter.

When constructing containers for shipment of birds, the normal habits and necessary freedom of movement must be considered.

Wooden perches must be provided for such birds that rest by perching. The diameter of the perch must be large enough to permit the bird to maintain a firm, comfortable grip with its claws. The perches must be placed so that droppings do not fall into the food and water troughs, or onto other perching birds. They must also allow head room, so that a bird can move on and off the perch without hitting the top of the compartment/container and to perch without the tail being damaged, but perches must not be place too high off the floor.

Quantities of birds must be limited to permit sufficient perch space so that each bird can perch at the same time. In addition, for small birds no more than approximately 50 must be contained in one single compartment, so as to avoid smothering by crowding.

Non-perching birds must be provided with smooth raised wooden bars at intervals on the floor down the length of the container in order to give the birds secure foothold.

Separate food and water troughs must be provided. They must be accessible for replenishment purposes and both ends and sides must have a flange to prevent spillage of water and food. Precautions must be taken to reduce the risk of drowning by floating a sponge or other suitable material on the surface of the water in the trough.

Whenever ventilation openings are to be covered with wire mesh, the edges must have suitable protection to prevent injury to the birds. For small birds, all the openings must be covered with wire mesh.

Three-ply wood, wood or other material of equivalent strength, is generally regarded as suitable for the main structure, with a solid wooden framework, and ends of 1.3 cm (½ in) solid wood.

There must be a door with an adequate fastening device, per compartment/container.

To facilitate handling and ventilation a handgrip/spacer bar must be provided as illustrated.

Meshed ventilation openings, approximately 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter, must be provided at about 5 cm (2 in) spacing along the other three sides of the container.

The sloping front of the container must be covered with 0.3 cm (_ in) wire mesh to constitute 75% of the front. A muslin curtain which can be lowered over the outside front of the container must be provided. Ventilation openings must be covered with muslin or other light material that does not occlude ventilation to prevent possible inhaling of infectious droplets by handlers.

Four perches approximately 1 cm (2/5 in) in diameter must be provided in the approximate positions indicated and must provide 3 cm (1 1/5 in) of perching space for each bird.

It is advisable the shipper must ensure that wild birds are held in captivity for approximately thirty days before dispatch to overcome the stress of capture and allow them to become accustomed to confinement and the new diet. The use of anti-stress tonic is beneficial. It is of utmost importance that all birds be given, under close supervision, an opportunity to drink an ample supply of water before departure.

On no account must excess birds be loaded into a compartment or container to ensure against mortality. Species of widely differing sizes must not be mixed in the same compartment/container.

Adequate food and water must be provided in the compartment/container by the shipper at the time of acceptance. Birds do not usually require additional feeding or watering during 24 hours following the time of dispatch.

If feeding or watering is required due to an unforeseen delay, the shipper’s instructions must be followed. With the smaller species, it is essential to make sure that the sponge floats are well wet at the time of departure.

Birds are very nervous by nature and containers must be handled carefully. The container must not be jolted or tilted unnecessarily. Excess light and noise must be avoided. Birds must be provided with water at the time of departure, transfer, layover and at destination.

Birds will not feed in the dark and must be stowed in at least dim light sufficient for them to see their food.

Special conditions applicable to parrot-like birds, large (including other large psittacines [parrot-like] birds over 23 cm [9 in] long):

Note: Refer to Container Requirement 11 for basic requirement applicable to all species of birds.

Wire mesh, metal, wood, non-toxic plastic, fiberglass, synthetics and muslin cloth.

The container must be made of plywood or other wood with a minimum thickness of 0.5 cm (1/5 in), or metal. Smooth wooden rails must be placed on the floor so that the birds can perch safely. Parrots have powerful beaks and the construction must reflect this fact.

Numbers must be limited to permit sufficient floor space so that each bird can sit at the same time. In addition, for the smaller species, no more than 25 birds must be contained in any single compartment in order to avoid smothering by crowding. In the case of cockatoos, it is recommended that no more than six be put into one compartment/container.

Separate accessible food and water trough must be provided with wide flanges to prevent spillage and a small enough access that the birds do not soak themselves.

Birds do not usually need additional feeding during 24 hours following the time of dispatch, other than the seed provided in the troughs as specified in the Basic Container Requirements.

If additional feeding is required due to an unforseen delay, seeds, e.g. sunflower, groundnut (natural peanuts), boiled maize, pine or brazil nuts and fruit must be provided.

For further information or comments, please contact Mike Taylor


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Appendix 4

IATA Guidelines

For further information or comments, please contact Mike Taylor