Trade Samples – Not for Human Consumption

1. Trade samples’ means animal by-products or derived products intended for particular studies or analyses authorised by the competent authority in accordance with Article 17(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 with a view to carrying out a production process, including the processing of animal by-products or derived products, the development of feedingstuff, pet food or derived products, or the testing of machinery or equipment; under Commission Regulation (EC) no. 142/2011.
2. The importation of products of animal origin as Trade Samples from third countries is prohibited unless authorised in advance by a Vet 17 Trade Samples Authorisation issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
3. Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 lays down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption.
4. For details regarding the import of ‘Food Samples’ intended for human consumption or taste testing please see Samples of Products of Animal Origin and of Composite Products for Product Analysis and Quality Testing, including Organoleptic Testing (‘Food Samples’)

Important:

Products of animal origin that do not comply with import conditions and controls can be seized either for destruction or return to the country of origin at the importers expense.

The Trade Samples Authorisation referred to below is issued without prejudice to import controls that may be required other than for public or animal health reasons and does not exempt importers from any prohibition, regulation or restriction imposed by any other agency or department.

1. An establishment receiving animal by-products and/or derived products as Trade Samples must be registered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

2. Furthermore, the registration must be in date as detailed in Article 23 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.

3. Application for registration of an establishment should be made to the Animal By- Product division;

Further information on registration of establishments, including application forms and conditions, are available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marineDepartment of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
A copy of the Certificate of Registration (CoR) issued by the Animal By-Products section, listing the Trade Sample product, must accompany the Vet17 application.

(1) This import is for Trade Samples only and not for re-sale.

(2) The competent authority may authorise the import and transit of trade samples, provided that they originate from:

(a) (i) third countries referred to in the column ‘third countries’ list of row 14 table 2 of section 1 of Chapter II on this Annex XIV of Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.

(ii) in the case of trade samples which consist of milk, milk-based products or milk derived products, authorised third countries listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 605/2010;

(b) They are accompanied by a health certificate as referred to in Chapter 8 Annex XV of Commission regulation EC no. 142/2011.

(3) The consignment must bear a label with the following words visibly and legibly displayed “Trade sample not for human consumption”.

(4) Each consignment must be accompanied by:

(5) The consignment must be presented to an EU approved BCP designated for products of animal origin (POAO NHC-Product of Animal Origin Non-Human Consumption)

Designated Border Control Posts (BCPs) - European Commission (europa.eu)

(6) Users that handle Trade Samples shall take all necessary measures to avoid the spreading of diseases communicable to humans or animals during the handling of the materials under their control.

(7)The consignment must be transported in accordance with IATA and ADR Regulations and travel directly from the authorised point of entry to the destination addresses provided in the licence application and CHED-P.

(8) Unless trade samples are kept for reference purposes, they shall be (a) redispatched to the third country of origin (b) dispatched to another Member State or third country, if such dispatch has been authorised by the competent authority of the Member State or third country of destination in advance or (c) disposed of or used in accordance with Article 12 ,13 &14 Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.

1. Application forms for a Vet 17 authorisation must be completed by the operator, as per the Certificate of Registration. The Vet 17 authorisation will be valid per consignment as detailed in the application form submitted. Please note that a Vet 17 authorisation is not an annual authorisation.

2. The original completed Vet 17 application form, signed by the operator as per the Certificate of Registration (CoR), issued by Animal By Product Division together with a copy of the Certificate of Registration(CoR) issue by ABP division, should be submitted along with a copy of the Certificate of Registration, to Animal Product imports to the address as listed below, not less than 7 working days before the intended date of import.

3. To expedite the processing of an application form for a Vet 17 Trade Sample Authorisation, please e-mail a scanned copy of the application form completed and signed by the operator as listed on the Certificate of Registration (CoR), along with a scanned copy of the Certificate of Registration to: AnimalProductImports@agriculture.gov.ie

4. However, the authorisation will not be issued until the original signed application form has been received by post. Please post to Animal Product Imports to the address indicated above.

A consignment of Trade Samples from a third county will require a Trade Sample Health Certificate, signed by an official veterinarian or inspector of the veterinary authority in the country of origin. The appropriate health certificate model required for Trade sample products is the Chapter 8 Health Cert model as listed in Annex XV of Commission regulation EC no. 142/2011. This model health certificate is also available through the online TRACES NT system.

1. Consignments of Trade Samples 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 system.
6. Copies of other supporting documentation associated with the consignment should be submitted at this time as well - such as the Health Certificate and Authorisation.
7. Necessary documents and logistical information must be submitted 24 hours in advance via the DAFM Import Portal.

1. Consignments live animals entering the EU must be inspected at an EU-approved Border control Post (BCP) designated for products of animal origin (POAO NHC-Product of Animal Origin Non-Human Consumption) where Member States' official veterinarians ensure they fulfil all the requirements provided for in the EU legislation. List of designated BCPs.
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.

There is a required minimum pre-notification notice period of at least 24 hours’ notice in advance of the consignment’s arrival.

Failure to submit correct documentation within this timeline may result in significant delays in the consignment being processed through the Border Control Post.

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 system.

Copies of other supporting documentation associated with the consignment should be submitted at this time as well - such as the Health Certificate, Vet 17 Authorisation, Invoice, Packing list and so on.

Upon satisfactory completion of the required checks, the decision is entered in Part 2 of the CHED. Trade samples will be accepted for ‘monitoring to destination’. Part III of the CHED must be completed by the relevant competent authority with responsibility at the establishment of destination as indicated on the CHED.

3. Necessary documents and logistical information must be submitted 24 hours in advance via the DAFM Import Portal.

4. If the consignment does not meet the import requirements, the consignment may be rejected and either re-exported or destroyed.

1. There is no requirement for a Vet 17 Authorisation in relation to the movement of Trade Samples between EU Member States.

2. Trade Samples from Andorra, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Faeroe Islands, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland may also be imported without a Vet 17 Authorisation.

3.Currently under the Northern Ireland protocol agreement, trade samples from Northern Ireland do not require a Vet 17 Authorisation for import.

4. Further queries regarding the movement of Trade Samples between EU Member States should be directed to AnimalProductImports@agriculture.gov.ie