Import conditions for breeding and production cattle
Extra identification requirements
GB keepers who are selling or moving livestock to a keeper in NI are expected to attach an “export” tag to all animals. In England, for cattle the ISO code must be GB. In Wales and Scotland, GB or 826 can be used. Any type of tag (e.g. flag tag, button tag) may be used for this additional export tag, but it should be easily read from a distance. A third tag with the GB country code should be added to cattle who are already double tagged. All tags must include the animal’s individual ID number.
Port of entry
Landing must take place at the port of Larne and the person in charge of the animals must report immediately following disembarkation to a Portal Inspector and must co-operate with DAERA staff as required. Animals may not leave the Port until a Portal Inspector has authorised such departure.
All consignments of cattle must be pre-notified to DAERA at Larne Port on TRACES-NT using a CHED-A. Guidance on pre-notification and CHED A completion can be found at this link. Pre-notification on TRACES NT must be completed at least 24 hours before arrival.
Health certificate guarantees
The animals to be imported must be accompanied by
- a valid health certificate signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) appointed by the appropriate authority in Great Britain. The necessary health certificate and the conditions therein required for export from GB to NI can be viewed here.
- Fulfilment of these conditions is a matter for consideration between the exporter and their OV in GB.
Post import conditions
Immediately after landing imported cattle must be moved directly to the holding of destination in Northern Ireland as shown in the health certificate and must remain there for a period of at least 30 days. The person in charge of the holding of destination of the imported animals must advise the local Divisional Veterinary Officer of their arrival within 7 days following importation. This requires the importer to confirm movement of the animals onto the farm by submitting an MC2 to their local DAERA Office.
All cattle moving from GB to NI for breeding and production purposes will need to be re-tagged by the receiving NI keeper unless the cattle being imported are identified with a tag number previously issued by DAERA (UK 9 prefix) or a current EU Member State ( eg. DE, DK, IE or 372 prefix). This is because, under the relevant EU law, which will continue to apply to Northern Ireland, animals must be identified, upon entry from a third country, with a unique identification code, related to the holding of destination. Cattle must be re-identified within 20 days of arriving in NI and before leaving the holding of destination in NI and the re-identification must be supervised by a DAERA inspector to ensure the cattle’s traceability is maintained.
Whilst pre-export blood testing for BVD may be carried out in GB, this is not a requirement of the EHC. Cattle imported from GB which do not have a negative BVD test result that is recognised by the NI BVD Eradication Programme require a BVD virus test within 20 days of arrival. This must be arranged and paid for by the owner, and done before the animal is moved to another herd. Further information is available from Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI), or at the link below.
More useful links
- Identification requirements for imported cattle
- BVD testing of imported cattle - AHWNI guidance
- Importer checklist for breeding/production cattle
- Animal transport certificate
Import conditions of slaughter cattle from Great Britain
Extra identification requirements
GB keepers who are selling or moving livestock to a keeper in NI are expected to attach an “export” tag to all animals. In England, for cattle the ISO code must be GB. In Wales and Scotland, GB or 826 can be used. Any type of tag (e.g. flag tag, button tag) may be used for this additional export tag, but it should be easily read from a distance. A third tag with the GB country code should be added to cattle who are already double tagged. All tags must include the animal’s individual ID number.
Port of entry
Landing must take place at the port of Larne and the person in charge of the animals must report immediately following disembarkation to a Portal Inspector and must co-operate with DAERA staff as required. Animals may not leave the Port until a Portal Inspector has authorised such departure.
All consignments of cattle must be pre-notified to DAERA at Larne Port on TRACES-NT using a CHED-A. Guidance on pre-notification and CHED A completion can be found at this link. Pre-notification on TRACES NT must be completed at least 24 hours before arrival.
Health certificate guarantees
The animals to be imported must be accompanied by
- a valid health certificate signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) appointed by the appropriate authority in Great Britain. The necessary health certificate and the conditions therein required for export from GB to NI can be viewed here.
- Fulfilment of these conditions is a matter for consideration between the exporter and their OV in GB.
Freeze-branding
All cattle imported for direct slaughter, must be freeze-branded on the hind quarters with an L mark.
Post import conditions
Immediately after landing, the imported animals must be moved direct to slaughter and may only be consigned to the abattoir as shown on the health certificate. The animals must not be moved to anywhere else. On arrival at the meat plant/abattoir the animals and health certificate(s) which accompanied the animals must be presented to an officer of DAERA for checking.