Service
Register with TRACES
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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Last updated
The Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) is the European Commission’s online platform for the electronic completion of documentation required for imports of consignments from third countries and certain intra-community trade movements.
TRACES facilitates the exchange of data, information and documents between trading parties and Governments/ Import control authorities.
TRACES is required for:
- the importation of animals, animal products, food and some feed of non-animal origin and plants into the European Union, and,
- internal EU trade and EU exports of animals and certain animal products
TRACES allows for the mandatory completion of Common Health Entry Documents (CHED). The purpose of the CHED is to:
1. Allow the operator responsible for the consignment to pre-notify the competent authorities of the border control post (BCP) of the arrival of the consignment (Part I).
2. For the competent authorities to record the outcome of the official controls performed and any decisions taken on that basis (Part II).
3. For the competent authorities to include information on follow up measures taken on the consignment after the decision is made (Part III).
The person responsible for the consignment must be registered and have access to TRACES. Under TRACES the various documents that should be completed are as follows:
- Common Health Entry Documents-A (CHED-A) for consignments of live animals
- Common Health Entry Documents-P (CHED-P) for consignments of products of animal origin, germinal products and animal by-products
- Common Health Entry Documents-PP (CHED-PP) for consignments of plants, plant products and other objects for which a phytosanitary certificate is required
- Common Health Entry Documents-D (CHED-D) for consignments of high risk animal feed of non-animal origin.
In order to facilitate the efficiency of import controls upon arrival, these documents should be completed in TRACES and also submitted to the Department 24 hours in advance of their arrival in Ireland.
Further information on TRACES is available here .
When you register as an Importer or Exporter with the Department, TRACES registration will be initiated for you. See the Brexit registration page for details or email BrexitRegistration@agriculture.gov.ie for assistance.
