Irish Agriculture Traders Notes Equine and Pets

Movement of equines between Ireland and Great Britain, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal

This notice provides information on the movement of equines between Ireland and Great Britain (GB), if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
In a no-deal scenario:
– the Tripartite Agreement between Ireland, France and the UK will no longer apply to the UK;
– equines from GB will only be allowed enter Ireland if the UK is listed in the relevant EU legislation as a third country allowed to export equines to the EU. If listed, the requirements for moving equines from GB to Ireland will depend on the sanitary group (health status category) in which the EU places the UK. The European Commission has indicated that the UK should be listed “swiftly”.

If the UK is listed:
1. Equines from GB can only enter Ireland at an EU border inspection post (BIP) for that species. Ireland currently has 2 BIPs through which registered equines1 may enter – Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport. Ireland has applied to the European Commission to have Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort approved as BIPs through which equines may enter Ireland.2. Equines from GB will undergo documentary, identity and physical checks at the BIP. 3. Each consignment of equines entering Ireland from GB must be accompanied by:

 an identification document,

 a completed Export Health Certificate issued by the UK authorities including a completed owner declaration, and

 a Common Veterinary Entry Document.

1 ‘registered equine’ is defined in EU legislation as an equine that is entered, or registered and eligible for entry, in a studbook and identified by means of an identification document issued by: (i) the breeding authority or any other competent authority of the country where the animal originated which manages the studbook or register for that breed of animal; or (ii) any international association or organisation which manages horses for competition or racing; ‘equine for slaughter’ means equines intended to be transported either directly or after transit through an approved marshalling centre, to the slaughterhouse for slaughter;
‘equine for breeding and production’ means equines other than those mentioned above.

Information on common equine movement scenarios

 

1. Moving an equine from Ireland to GB

The UK government has indicated that, in a no-deal scenario, there will be no immediate change in requirements for equines that may currently enter the UK from Ireland without animal health documentation (these are equines that are currently permitted to move between Ireland and the UK on a valid passport, under the Tripartite Agreement). Equines entering the UK from the EU will not have to enter the UK via a Border Inspection Post.
For information on the UK position, please consult: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-horsesand-ponies-special-rules.

2. Moving an equine from Ireland to GB and returning to Ireland
Here are two movement scenarios:
a. Moving a registered horse from Ireland to GB for racing/competition/a cultural event, and returning to Ireland
b. Moving a registered horse, registered equine animal, or equine animal for breeding and production from Ireland to GB for any other reason (apart from participation in racing, competition or cultural events) and returning to Ireland

The previous section 1 covers the first movement, from Ireland to GB.

Each of the scenarios above requires a specific health cert to re-enter Ireland from GB. An application for the correct Export Health Certificate should be submitted to the UK authorities. For information on how to apply for a UK export health certificate, please consult https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-horses-and-ponies-special-rules.

During transport, the horse, or other equine animal, must also be accompanied by its identification document (passport).
Additional requirements for movements of equines from Great Britain to Ireland
Additional requirements will apply to most movement of equines from GB to Ireland (apart from the re-entry of registered horses to Ireland that have been in GB for racing/competition/a cultural event). These additional requirements relate to residency periods and testing for disease. They will differ depending on the type of movement and on which Sanitary Group the UK will be assigned to. For further information, please consult https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-horses-and-poniesspecial-rules.

3. Moving an equine from GB to Ireland
Here are three common movement scenarios:
a. temporary admission of registered horses into the EU for a period of less than 90 days
b. imports into the EU of an individual registered horse, registered equine animal, or equine animal for breeding and production
c. imports into the EU of consignments of domestic equine for slaughter

For each of these three movements, an application for a specific Export Health Certificate, which includes an owner declaration, must be submitted to the UK authorities. For information on how to apply for the specific UK Export Health Certificate, please consult https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-horses-and-ponies-special-rules. The horse or other equine animal must also be accompanied by its identification document (passport).
Additional requirements for movements of equines from Great Britain to Ireland

Additional requirements will apply to most movement of equines from GB to Ireland (apart from the re-entry of registered horses to Ireland that have been in GB for racing/competition/a cultural event). These additional requirements relate to residency periods and testing for disease. They will differ depending on the type of movement and on which Sanitary Group the UK will be assigned to. For further information, please consult https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-horses-and-poniesspecial-rules.

4. Moving from Ireland to continental Europe via landbridge of UK

In a no-deal scenario, simplified controls (possibly documentary checks only) at entry points to the EU will apply to live animals travelling from one EU Member State to another Member State that transit through the UK (e.g. travel from Ireland via GB to continental Europe).
Equine animals may only enter the EU through a Border Inspection Post.
For equine animals travelling from Ireland to continental Europe via UK landbridge, DAFM will issue updated information if further documentation is required.
The UK authorities must be consulted regarding any notification requirement.

Transport of equines between Ireland and Great Britain (GB)
Equines transported between Ireland and the UK will continue to be subject to Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport.
In a no deal scenario, transporter authorisations, certificates of approval of means of transport and certificates of competence for drivers and attendants issued by the UK under Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 will no longer be valid in the EU.
For queries in relation to obtaining transport authorisations and certificates from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, please contact TransportApprovals@agriculture.gov.ie or consult https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/animaltransport/latestimportantnewsfortransporters/.

The UK has indicated that, for an interim period, when importing live animals, the UK will continue to recognise Transporter Authorisations, Certificates of Competence, Vehicle Approval Certificates and Journey Logs issued by EU countries.

29th March 2019 (may also apply to new exit date on 31 December 2020)

 

Changes to the rules for pet (cats, dogs, ferrets) travel between Ireland and the UK after Brexit, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal

The UK’s departure from the EU will result in a change in the rules for pet travel between Ireland and the UK. This notice concerns pet dogs, cats and ferrets travelling between Ireland and Great Britain (GB), in three different scenarios, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Important first step – you should contact your vet as soon as possible before your travel date to start making the necessary arrangements in good time.
The UK Government has indicated that pet travel rules for entry into the UK may not change for some time after Brexit, but you must check with the UK authorities for the latest information https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-after-brexit.

The three scenarios:

Scenario 1: travelling to GB on holidays with your pet and returning to Ireland

Your pet dog/cat/ferret must:
1. Be micro chipped before its first rabies vaccination (or tattooed, if the tattoo was applied before 03 July 2011);
2. Be vaccinated against rabies;
3. For travel to GB – have an EU pet passport or an EU health cert

For return to Ireland – have an EU pet passport (not a UK-issued EU pet passport) or an EU health cert issued by a UK government vet. You will not be able to return to Ireland on an EU pet passport issued in the UK, but you should hold on to a UK-issued pet passport if you have one, as it may have important information about vaccinations, treatments, etc.;
4. have a rabies titration test (blood test). You must wait at least 30 days after the rabies vaccine was administered before the blood test can be carried out. You should arrange the test in Ireland before you travel. This is because if the test is administered in GB after the UK leaves the EU, the pet must wait three months from the date the successful rabies titration test was carried out before it can travel to Ireland. If the test is not successful, a repeat vaccination will be needed, as well as another blood test taken at least 30 days after the repeat vaccination;
5. Dogs will need to be given treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis (tapeworm), by a vet, before re-entering Ireland.
6. Anyone bringing a pet dog, cat or ferret into Ireland from GB will have to give the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine advance notice by email before arrival.

Scenario 2: Travelling from GB to Ireland with your pet

Your pet dog/cat/ferret must:
1. Be micro chipped before its first rabies vaccination (or tattooed, if the tattoo was applied before 3rd July 2011);
2. Be vaccinated against rabies;
3. Have an EU pet passport (not a UK-issued EU pet passport),
OR
If you don’t have an EU pet passport, an EU health cert issued by a UK government vet. You will not be able to travel to the EU on an EU pet passport issued in the UK, but you should hold on to a UK-issued pet passport if you have one, as it may have important information about vaccinations, treatments, etc.;
4. have a rabies titration test (blood test). You must wait at least 30 days after the rabies vaccine was administered before the blood test can be carried out.
Important: if the rabies titration test (blood test) is administered in GB after the UK leaves the EU, the pet must wait three months from the date the successful rabies titration test was carried out before it can travel to Ireland.
5. Dogs will need to be given treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis (tapeworm), by a vet;
6. Anyone bringing a pet dog, cat or ferret into Ireland from GB will have to give the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine advance notice by email before arrival.

Scenario 3: Moving to GB with your pet and not returning to Ireland

The UK Government have indicated that pet travel rules for entry into the UK may not change for some time after Brexit, but you must check with the UK authorities for the latest information https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-after-brexit.

For further information, please see www.agriculture.gov.ie/brexit.