Defining Competence

IATA's Live Animal Regulations (LAR) is published annually and goes into effect on October 1 of each year. The sections quoted below were unanimously approved and added to the LAR in 2004. This verbiage clearly defines "Competency" of animal handlers. This was an ATA initiative to address ambiguity within the IATA LAR.

The following is an excerpt from the Live Animal Regulations (Oct 2009 edition) and it is updated periodically or as necessary:

1.2.8 Attendants
The shipper or carrier must provide a competent attendant(s) when a shipment of animals is accompanied as required by the laws of the countries involved, or as required by the air carrier providing transportation, or for any other reason. For compliance purposes, any such attendant must, in advance, liaise with the air carrier concerned to acknowledge and to adhere to the applicable safety and security measures.

1.2.9 Competency
All personnel who accompany animals transported by air must, if requested, demonstrate competency in the care and handling of the species being transported. This competency may be demonstrated by means of a document from a government regulatory body, or successful completion of a program recognized or sanctioned by a government regulatory body. An individual meeting standards as established by the air carrier providing the transportation may also determine competency.

An individual deemed competent to accompany a shipment of animals should possess the following, as appropriate to the species:

• Working knowledge of the IATA Live Animals Regulations; in particular the Container Requirements.
  
  
• Knowledge of the animal health and welfare regulations and document requirements applicable to the countries of origin, transit (if any) and destination.
  
  
• Knowledge of the handling and caring of animals during loading, flight, unloading and during takeoff and landing (when permitted).
  
  
• Ability to recognize an animal which is ill or becomes unfit for air transport.
  
  
• Ability to recognize signs of stress and their causes, and how to reduce these.
  
  
• Skill in the treatment of injuries, when and how to administer veterinary drugs (when and where permitted) and when and how to immobilize and euthanaize an animal if necessary.
  
  
• Working knowledge of aircraft and airport operations and procedures.
  
  
• A current and valid passport, with visas (where required) or other valid travel documents.
  
  

The ATA is pleased to have been part of a cooperative effort by ATA & IATA in fostering the interests of animal transportation welfare and safety. We are also pleased that the ATA has established an internationally recognized Certificate of Competence with a government regulatory body, namely the National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC) in the U.K.

The full schedule of competencies may be accessed on their website at www.nptc.org.uk [click on Schedules; then click on the last listed item 'Animal Attendants Transporting Animal by Air]. The schedule and assessment program for live animal attendants is a PDF file which may be downloaded.

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The current issue of the October 2009 edition of the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) includes references to using "competent" attendants:

Under Nomenclature — Terms and Definitions: "COMPETENT": EC Directive 91/628, as amended by 95/29, stipulates that all transporters must entrust the animals to the care of staff who have the appropriate competence and knowledge to handle animal shipments. For the purpose of these Regulations, competent staff are those who have demonstrated they are qualified to handle, transport, care for and safeguard the welfare of animals." See also 1.2.8

In Chapter 1 (Application of These Regulations), in Section 1.2.8 under Attendants: "The shipper must provide a competent attendant/s when a shipment of animals must be accompanied."

In Chapter 2 (Government Regulations) under European Union, item ii — Competent Staff: "The transporter must entrust the animal(s) to the care of staff who have the appropriate competence and knowledge to care for them before they are allowed to handle animal cargoes."

And, lastly in Container Requirement #2 in a footnote, the LAR clarifies, again, the page where it restates the definition of "Competence" (above)