How the EU Tracks Illegal Animal Import and Trade

The RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) is a digital platform established by the European Commission to facilitate the fast exchange of information among EU Member States in cases of serious violations related to food and feed safety, as well as the illegal movement of companion animals.

Initially created to control food and feed quality, the RASFF system has expanded its functionality in response to the growing illegal pet trade. Today, it plays a key role in identifying falsified veterinary documents, fake vaccinations, fictitious travel routes, and other forms of fraud in the animal trade sector.

The system helps detect:

One striking example of the system’s effectiveness was the identification of a group of individuals from Russia and Belarus who organized the import of more than 27,000 dogs and cats into the EU over four years, formally declaring each shipment as “non-commercial.” The investigation also revealed veterinarians who issued false documents and shelters that used their status to disguise illegal animal trade. This became possible thanks to RASFF, which tracked recurring routes, fake vaccinations, and forged documents — enabling legal action and judicial follow-up.

RASFF is a vital tool in ensuring biosecurity, safeguarding human and animal health, and combating tax fraud and trafficking. It helps uncover organized grey-market schemes, intercept potentially dangerous animals at borders, and reduce the spread of diseases such as rabies.

Raising awareness about this system among transporters, shelters, veterinarians, and pet owners fosters a more transparent and responsible environment. The more stakeholders are informed, the harder it becomes to exploit animals for illegal gain.

RASFF is not just a database — it is an active enforcement mechanism within the EU’s broader policy of transparency and control in the animal trade sector.