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Pet food (including dog chews)
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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Annex I of Regulation (EU) 142/2011 provides the following definitions:
‘Pet food’ means feed, other than material referred to in Article 24(2), for use as feed for pet animals, and dog chews consisting of animal by-products or derived products which:
(a) contain Category 3 material, other than material referred to in Article 10(n), (o) and (p) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009; and
(b) may contain imported Category 1 material comprising of animal by-products derived from animals which have been submitted to illegal treatment as defined in Article 1(2)(d) of Directive 96/22/EC or Article 2(b) of Directive 96/23/EC.
‘Canned petfood’ means heat-processed petfood contained within a hermetically sealed container.
‘Processed petfood’ means petfood, other than raw petfood, which has been processed in accordance with point 3 of Chapter II of Annex XIII.
‘Raw petfood’ means petfood containing certain Category 3 material which has not undergone any preserving process other than chilling or freezing.
‘Petfood plant’ means premises or facilities for the production of petfood or flavouring innards, as referred to in Article 24(1)(e) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.
Pet food can be imported provided that it:
• comes from an approved country/part of a country
• comes from an approved establishment
• is accompanied by and conforms with the requirements of an agreed animal/public health certificate
Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption
Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and implementing Council Directive 97/78/EC as regards certain samples and items exempt from veterinary checks at the border under that Directive
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products
Raw pet food may be exported to the EU from third countries listed in Part 1 of Annex XIII , Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/ 404 or Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 , from which Member States authorise imports of fresh meat from the same species and where bone-in meat is authorised.
In the case of fish materials, third countries must be listed in in Annex IX to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405.
Pet food and dog chews (other than raw pet food) may be exported to the EU from Third countries listed in Part 1 of Annex XIII , or Part 1, Section A Part 1 of Annex XIV , or Part 1, Section A of Annex XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/ 404 , and the following third countries:
AL) Albania
(EC) Ecuador
(DZ) Algeria
(GE) Georgia (only processed petfood other than canned petfood)
(LK) Sri Lanka
(SA) Saudi Arabia (only processed petfood of poultry origin)
(SV) El Salvador
(TW) Taiwan
In the case of processed petfood derived from fish materials, third countries must be listed in Annex IX to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 .
The products must have been prepared and stored in a plant that was approved, validated and supervised by the competent authority.
Lists of approved establishments may be found here.
The products must have been produced in accordance with Chapter II of Annex XIII in Regulation (EU) No. 142/2011.
Products derived from bovine, ovine or caprine animals must meet the relevant requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001
1. Petfood shall be presented at a Border Control Post (BCP) accompanied by a veterinary health certificate, drawn up in conformity with the appropriate model from the list below, as found in Chapter 3 (A-D) of Annex XV to Regulation (EU) 142/2011.
Health Certificate – Canned Pet food
Fill out this form if you are importing canned pet food into Ireland.
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Health Certificate – Processed Pet Food
Fill out this form if you are importing processed pet food into Ireland.
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Health Certificate – Dogchews
Fill out this form if you are importing dog chews into Ireland.
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Health Certificate – Raw Pet Food
Fill out this form if you are raw pet food into Ireland.
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2. The certifying veterinarian should ensure that only the relevant paragraphs and, where appropriate, additional guarantees and/or special conditions applicable to exporting country are included.
1. Consignments of petfood entering the EU must be inspected at an EU-approved Border control Post (BCP) where Member States' official veterinarians ensure they fulfil all the requirements provided for in the EU legislation.
2. The person responsible for the load being imported (the importer or a customs agent acting on their behalf) must give the BCP at the intended point of entry advance notification of the arrival of the consignment.
3. There is a required minimum pre-notification notice period of at least 24 hours’ notice in advance of the consignment’s arrival.
4. Failure to submit correct documentation within this timeline may result in significant delays in the consignment being processed through the Border Control Post.
5. Pre-notification is given by the submission of Part 1 of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED-P), as is laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 2019/1715, through the online TRACES NT system.
6. Copies of other supporting documentation associated with the consignment should be submitted at this time as well - such as the Health Certificate, Invoice, Packing list etc.
7: Necessary documents and logistical information must be submitted 24 hours in advance via the DAFM Import Portal.
1. Providing all the documentation has been submitted correctly and within the correct timeframes, a large proportion of the documentary check can be commenced in advance of the consignment’s arrival. This includes examination of the veterinary certificate and other documents accompanying a consignment.
Please note the original hard copy of the health certificate must travel with the consignment, this will be checked and held at the BCP at the point of entry into the EU.
2. Provided all is in order with the documentary check, the consignment will then be subject to an identity check at the BCP to ensure it identifies with the consignment that was declared in the documentation.
3. A proportion of consignments will be selected for a full physical inspection with/without sampling as appropriate.
4. Upon satisfactory completion of the required checks, the decision is entered in Part 2 of the CHED which must accompany the consignment to the first place of destination referred to in the CHED.
5. If the consignment does not meet the import requirements, the consignment may be rejected and either re-exported or destroyed.