Importing Cattle from the European Union
This page provides information on the requirements for moving Cattle from the European Union (EU) to Northern Ireland (NI).
There are 4 types of movements from the EU linked to Cattle.
Please select the relevant link below to view the applicable requirements
1) Animals destined for immediate slaughter
2) Animals destined for further keeping
3) EU animals transiting Great Britain as part of their journey – landbridge movements
4) Movement between confined establishments
1) Animals destined for immediate slaughter
1. Identification requirements
Consignments of bovines must be individually identified prior to being dispatched from the establishment of origin by a means of a conventional ear tag which must:
(a) be attached to each ear flap of the animal with a visible, legible and indelible display of the identification code of the animal on the means of identification;
(b) be applied to bovine animals on the establishment of birth;
(c) not be removed, modified or replaced without the permission of the competent authority of the Member State where the bovine animals are kept.
Operators keeping bovine animals may replace:
(a) one of the conventional ear tags referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article by an electronic identifier approved by the competent authority of the Member State where the bovine animals are kept, where such replacement is authorised by that Member State
(b) both conventional ear tags referred to in paragraph 1 by an electronic identifier approved by the competent authority of the Member State where the bovine animals are kept in accordance with the exemptions provided for in Article 39(1). of EU Regulation 2019/2035
2. Disease control movement requirement
INTRA The animals to be imported must be accompanied by an EU Animal Health Certificate (INTRA) which is issued via TRACES-NT. The Applicable Certificate is Model BOV INTRA Y. This INTRA must be completed by an official veterinarian (OV) in the Country of Departure. Fulfilment of these conditions is a matter for consideration between the exporter and their OV in the exporting EU country.
DAERA has automatically registered the establishments of many NI operators on TRACES-NT for import purposes. However, in case if any doubt, we advise that prior to the planned date of import that importers contact their local DAERA Direct field office to ensure that their establishment in NI has been registered.
Cleansing and disinfection prior to the journey the transport vehicle must be cleansed and disinfected so as to remove all visible organic matter. During transport the imported animals must not come into contact with animals that are not certified as being of the same health status.
Health attestations The OV must ensure they have not shown clinical signs or symptoms of diseases listed for bovine animals during the clinical examination, which was carried out, within the 24-hour period prior to departure of the consignment. The movement is subject to disease attestations in respect of Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, surra and Bluetongue
3. Post import requirements
Operators of slaughterhouses receiving kept terrestrial animals from another Member State must check the animals, their correct identification and if documentation is complete. If they perceive any irregularity, they have to inform the slaughterhouse Official Veterinarian.
4. Welfare during Transport requirements
This journey is classed as a commercial transport and as such, all requirements under ‘The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006’ and Council Regulation EC 1/2005 must be complied with. Further guidance on these requirements is available via the following links:
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/welfare-animals-during-transport
2) Animals destined for further keeping
1. Identification requirements
Consignments of bovines must be individually identified prior to being dispatched from the establishment of origin by a means of a conventional ear tag which must:
(a) be attached to each ear flap of the animal with a visible, legible and indelible display of the identification code of the animal on the means of identification;
(b) be applied to bovine animals on the establishment of birth;
(c) not be removed, modified or replaced without the permission of the competent authority of the Member State where the bovine animals are kept.
Operators keeping bovine animals may replace:
(a) one of the conventional ear tags referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article by an electronic identifier approved by the competent authority of the Member State where the bovine animals are kept, where such replacement is authorised by that Member State
(b) both conventional ear tags referred to in paragraph 1 by an electronic identifier approved by the competent authority of the Member State where the bovine animals are kept in accordance with the exemptions provided for in Article 39(1). of EU Regulation 2019/2035
2. Disease control movement requirements
INTRA The animals to be imported must be accompanied by an EU Intra Animal Health Certificate (INTRA) which is issued via TRACES-NT. The Applicable Certificate is Model BOV INTRA X. This EHC must be completed by an official veterinarian in the Country of Departure. Fulfilment of these conditions is a matter for consideration between the exporter and their OV in the exporting EU country.
DAERA has automatically registered the establishments of many NI operators on TRACES-NT for import purposes. However, in case if any doubt, we advise that prior to the planned date of import that importers contact their local DAERA Direct field office to ensure that their establishment in NI has been registered.
Cleansing and disinfection prior to the journey the transport vehicle must be cleansed and disinfected so as to remove all visible organic matter. During transport the imported animals must not come into contact with animals that are not certified as being of the same health status.
Residency information The animals must have been continuously resident in the establishment for at least 30 days prior to departure, or since birth, if they are younger than 30 days of age, and during this period they have not been in contact with kept bovine animals of a lower health status or subject to movement restrictions for animal health reasons or with kept animals coming from an establishment which did not fulfil the requirements.
Health attestations The OV must ensure they have not shown clinical signs or symptoms of diseases listed for bovine animals during the clinical examination, which was carried out, within the 24-hour period prior to departure of the consignment.The movement is subject to disease attestations in respect of for example Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, Surra, Bluetongue, Anthrax, Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease and Enzootic Bovine Leukosis.
3. Post import requirements
Operators of establishments receiving kept terrestrial animals from another Member State must check the animals, their correct identification and if documentation is complete. If they perceive any irregularity, they have to inform the competent authority of the place of destination. In this case animals must be isolated until the competent authority advises how to proceed.
Once the import is completed, the movement must be notified within 7 days to your local DAERA Regional Office in NI and the following documents must be presented:
- Animal identification document where applicable, e.g. passport
- a completed MC2 Notification of cattle movement
- the hard copy INTRA trade certificate (or the number of the certificate if digitally signed or sealed)
BVD testing of imported animals
Herd keepers are required to BVD test imported animals which have not been previously tested for BVD virus in a DAERA approved laboratory. This is particularly important for animals from mainland Europe, as in many countries the BVD risk is higher than it now is in NI. An ear notch or blood sample must be taken within 20 days of import and sent to a DAERA approved laboratory within a further 7 days. This must be arranged and paid for by the keeper and completed prior to moving the animal to another herd.
For animals imported from the ROI, further testing may not be required as, in most cases, Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI) can confirm the animal has been tested in a DAERA approve laboratory with negative result before import. AHWNI frequently update BVD results to negative (BVDN on NIFAIS) for imported animals from ROI. It is the responsibility of the importing herd keeper to check the BVD status of imported cattle and organise testing if required. Further information is available from AHWNI, or at the link below.
BVD testing of imported cattle - AHWNI guidance
4. Welfare during Transport requirements
This journey is classed as a commercial transport and as such, all requirements under ‘The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006’ and Council Regulation EC 1/2005 must be complied with. Further guidance on these requirements is available vie the following links:
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/welfare-animals-during-transport
3) EU animals transiting Great Britain as part of their journey – landbridge movements
Guidance is available here: Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Checks - Advice on Live Animals Transiting the GB Landbridge | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)
4) Movement between confined establishments
- An import licence must be applied for using the application form available here by emailing the fully and accurately completed form to daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk at least 10 days prior to intended movement. The establishment approval numbers must be registered on TRACES NT.The import licence will state the conditions under which the movement into NI is permitted.
- At present, DAERA continues to recognise historically approved Balai registration numbers issued under EC 92/65 until a confined establishment approval process is operational in NI.
Should you have any further queries around the establishment approval, please contact daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk .