DAFM update on breeding livestock trade with mainland Europe
Breeding cattle and sheep from mainland Europe can be traded into Ireland, as long as they are accompanied by a valid veterinary health certificate that meets relevant animal health requirements.
That's according to the Department of Agriculture and the Marine (DAFM).
Restrictions have been placed on the trade of breeding cattle and sheep between the Republic of Ireland and other countries on mainland Europe and Britain as a result of the bluetongue virus (BTV).
These restrictions are causing challenges for some pedigree cattle and sheep breeders, in particular, breeders of less common breeds of livestock that may need to trade with breeders in other countries to introduce new bloodlines to the breed.
Agriland recently put the question to DAFM on what the current status is on restrictions on the import of breeding livestock to Ireland from mainland Europe.
In reply, a spokesperson from DAFM explained: "Breeding cattle and sheep from mainland Europe can be traded into Ireland, as long as they are accompanied by a valid veterinary health certificate which meets relevant animal health requirements.
"In relation to bluetongue (BTV), the department has published derogations from standard certification conditions, thereby allowing the inward movement of cattle and sheep from EU countries subject to those conditions."
A copy of these derogations are publicly available here.
Irish livestock exports
The DAFM spokesperson also explained that some EU Member States have also chosen "to apply derogations, subject to certain additional requirements decided by those Member States, which would facilitate movement of cattle and sheep from Ireland".
"The vast majority of Irish cattle exports are to EU markets where no vaccination or pre-export testing is required under introduced derogations.
"Derogations only apply to movements between EU Member States and not to third country trade," the spokesperson said.
The DAFM spokesperson explained that "due to the dynamic nature of bluetongue and the presence of several different serotypes of the disease present within Europe, any questions as to whether a consignment of cattle or sheep destined for Ireland comply with the requirements of the published Irish derogation should be addressed to the relevant competent authorities in that country of origin".
