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Importing Animals and Animal Products from Countries Outside the EU (Third Countries)
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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If you want to import animals or products of animal origin (including fish) from a non-EU country (excluding Northern Ireland) you must be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.
Importers also need to be registered on TRACES (an EU Commission system for the electronic completion of documentation required for imports of certain consignments from third countries).
To protect human health, animal health and the environment, EU rules restrict the import of certain goods from third countries – for example, live animals and products of animal origin. A list of such goods which require official controls at the point of entry is provided by Regulation (EU) 2021/632.
To import into the Union or transit through the Union animals or products of animal origin listed in Reg (EU) 2021/632 from a non-EU country (excluding Northern Ireland):
• The animals/goods must enter through a Border Control Post which is designated for the specific category of animals or goods being imported
• The animals/goods must be presented for official controls at that BCP of first entry to the Union.
• The animals/goods must be pre-notified to the BCP at least 24 hours before the consignment arrives at the point of entry through submission of Part I of a Common Health Entry Document (CHED) on TRACES-NT and through submission of relevant documents to the INIS portal
• The animals/goods must be accompanied by the original relevant Official documentation (e.g. Export Health certificate) at the BCP. A copy of the official documentation should be transmitted to the BCP in advance through the INIS portal and CHED.
• if you are importing wild caught fish or fishery products, you must have a Catch Certificate – see the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) for further information. Where a Catch Certificate is required, you must give the SFPA at least 24 hours advance notice
• make sure your transporter or haulier is in possession of the required EU authorisations
- Imports of products of animal origin for human consumption
- Live Animal Imports
- Import of animal by-products (ABPs)
- Import of Composite Products
- Import of Hatching Eggs
- Import of Germinal Products
- Import of Hay and Straw
- Import of Pathogenic Agents
- Import of Research and Diagnostic Agents
- Re -imports of Animal Products
- Re-imports of Live Animals
- Import of Food Samples (POAO and Composite products for product analysis and quality testing)
- Import of Trade Samples - not for human consumption
• the operator responsible for importing the consignment must register with the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine as well as on the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) ). You can register on TRACES by applying through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
• check on TRACES that the exporter in the third country of origin is approved by the EU to export the category of product required by you
Information on how to register for access to the DAFM INIS portal is available at - APPLICANT Login (agriculture.gov.ie)
Border Control Posts designated for animals, products of animal origin, composite products, germinal products, animal by-products, hay and straw referred to in Article 47(1)(a) and (b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 or covered by conditions or measures referred to in Article 47(1)(d), (e) or (f) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625
BCP Designation Ireland
BCPs designated for animals, products of animal origin, composite products, germinal products, animal by-products, hay and straw referred to in Article 47(1)(a) and (b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 or covered by conditions or measures referred to in Article 47(1)(d), (e) or (f) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625
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Although the UK has left the EU, operators are still able to move goods between Ireland and other EU countries by road through Great Britain (the UK Landbridge). However, since 1 January 2021, a range of new steps must be completed.
• An operator who wishes to transit non-EU origin animals or animal products through one EU Member State to another EU Member State must present those animals/goods to the first BCP of entry to the Union for official controls. E.g. Animal product moving from GB(UK) through Dublin port BCP which is destined for N. Ireland – these goods must be presented to Dublin Port BCP for official controls before moving on to the final destination.
The rules outlined in the ‘How to Import from a non-EU country’ section above apply to such movements.
• An operator who wishes to transit non-EU origin animals or animal products through the EU to another non-EU country (external transit) must comply with EU rules regarding such a movement. Regulation 2019/2124 details these rules. Such consignments must be presented to the first BCP of entry to the EU for official controls.
The rules outlined in the ‘How to Import from a non-EU country’ section above apply to such movements.
Please see here for Trader Notices relating to the the Import of Animal and Animal products.
The EU requires all Wood Packaging Material (WPM) from third countries entering the Union territory to be ISPM 15 compliant: Wood Packaging Material and ISPM 15
