Import conditions for genetic material from GB
Port of entry
The consignments may enter via Larne, Belfast Port, Belfast International Airport 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.
The operator, e.g. this can be the importer/farmer or their agent who must be based in Northern Ireland, be responsible for importing the products, be registered on TRACES NT and the registration must be approved before the operator can use TRACES NT. Pre-notification must be submitted at least 24 hours before arrival at the port of entry in Northern Ireland (minimum of 4 hours in exceptional circumstances).
Pre-notification is done by completion of Part I of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) on TRACES NT. A CHED-P is used for products of animal origin. The operator is also required to submit copies of the relevant health certificate and any other documentation required by attaching them to the CHED P this is done via TRACES NT. Failure to do so may result in delays in processing at the time of importation.
For more information on TRACES NT including the registration process use the following link https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/pre-notifying-arrival-consignment-gb-using-traces-nt
Health certificate guarantees
The products 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 available health certificates and the conditions therein required for export from GB to NI can be viewed here .
- Fulfillment of these conditions is a matter for consideration between the exporter and their OV in GB.
Import conditions for porcine semen from GB
You must apply to DAERA Trade Imports by email at daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone (028 905 24588) at least 10 working days prior to import to obtain a Specific import licence permitting you to import this product from Great Britain.
Health certificate guarantees
The product 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 at the following link.
- Fulfillment of these conditions is a matter for consideration between the exporter and their OV in GB.
Supplementary certificate guarantees
The imported product must also be accompanied by a supplementary certificate for porcine semen signed by the certifying OV and certifying that:
- The semen was collected from boars on an approved collection Centre which contains only animals that have not been vaccinated against Aujeszky’s disease and which have reacted negatively to the serum neutralisation test or to the ELISA test for Aujeszky’s disease, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2020/692.
- In respect of Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE):-
- The donor animals were resident for at least 30 days on an approved quarantine immediately prior to entry into the Semen Collection Centre.
- All pigs in the Semen collection centre were free from clinical signs of TGE during the 12 months prior to collection of semen for export to Northern Ireland.
- In the case of Fresh Semen:
Either:
(i) The donor animals were subjected to a diagnostic test for TGE during the 30 days prior to collection of the semen for import with negative results in each and every case:
or
(ii) All animals in the approved semen collection centre have been subjected to a diagnostic test for TGE prior to their entry onto the centre and (a) routinely while resident on the centre and/or (b) prior to their exit from the centre with negative results.
- In the case of Frozen Semen:
The donor animals were subjected to a diagnostic test for TGE at least 14 days after collection of the semen for import, with negative results in each and every case.