Importing Pigs from the European Union
This page provides information on the requirements for moving Pigs from the European Union (EU) to Northern Ireland (NI).
There are 4 types of movements from the EU linked to pigs.
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
Operators of establishments keeping porcine animals shall ensure that each porcine animal is identified by the following means of identification:
(a) a conventional ear tag or an electronic ear tag attached to an ear flap of the animal with a visible, legible and indelible display of the unique registration number of the establishment of birth of animal; or the last establishment of the supply chain referred to in Article 53 when those animals are moved to an establishment outside of that supply chain; or
(b) a tattoo applied to an animal with indelible display of the unique registration number of the establishment of birth of animal; or the last establishment of the supply chain referred to in Article 53 when those animals are moved to an establishment outside of that supply chain.
For any deviations to the above-mentioned identification methods, please contact DAERA Trade Imports daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk for further guidance.
2. Disease control movement requirement
INTRA The animals to be imported must be accompanied by an EU Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (INTRA) which is issued via TRACES-NT. The Applicable Certificate is Model POR-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 holdings of many regular NI operators on TRACES-NT for import purposes. However, we advise that prior to the planned date of import that importers contact their local DAERA Direct field office to ensure that their address 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 porcine animals during the clinical examination, which was carried out, within the 24 hour period prior to departure of consignment.Depending on animal age, establishment status, area and Country of Origin, animals may require disease attestations or pre-import testing for Trichinella, Rabies, Anthrax, Aujeszky’s.
3. Post movement 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
Operators shall ensure that each porcine animal is identified by the following means of identification:
(a) a conventional ear tag or an electronic ear tag attached to an ear flap of the animal with a visible, legible and indelible display of the unique registration number of the establishment of birth of the animal and an individual code.
For any deviations to the above-mentioned identification methods, please contact DAERA Trade Imports daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk for further guidance.
2.Disease control movement requirement
INTRA The animals to be imported must be accompanied by an EU Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (INTRA) which is issued via TRACES-NT. The Applicable Certificate is Model POR-INTRA-X. 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 holdings of many regular NI operators on TRACES-NT for import purposes. However, we advise that prior to the planned date of import that importers contact their local DAERA Direct field office to ensure that their address 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.
Health Attestations: The OV must ensure they have not shown clinical signs or symptoms of diseases listed for porcine animals during the clinical examination, which was carried out, within the 24 hour period prior to departure of consignment.Depending on animal age, establishment status, area and Country of Origin, animals may require disease attestations or pre-import testing for Rabies, Aujeszky’s disease virus, anthrax, Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis.
3.Post movement 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.
You may be contacted by a DAERA official to organise post movement testing to safeguard the NI agricultural industry from diseases such as:
- Classical swine fever (CSF)
- Transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE)
- For pigs from Italy: Swine vesicular disease (SVD)
- For pigs from Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine imports: African Swine Fever (ASF)
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
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 .