Importing Sheep/Goats from the European Union
This page provides information on the requirements for moving sheep and goats from the European Union (EU) to Northern Ireland (NI).
There are 4 types of movements from the EU linked to sheep & goats. 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 shall ensure that each such animal is individually identified as follows:
(a) by a conventional ear tag with a visible, legible, and indelible display of the identification code of the animal; and
(b) by one of the following means of identification; either an electronic ear tag, ruminal bolus or electronic pastern band, approved by the competent authority of the Member State where the ovine and caprine animals are kept with legible and indelible display of the identification code of the animal.
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 OV/CAP-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.
EU residency information The animals have been continuously resident in the establishment for at least 21 days prior to departure, or since birth, if they are younger than 21 days of age.
Health Attestations The OV must ensure they have not shown clinical signs or symptoms of diseases listed for ovine/caprine animals during the clinical examination, which was carried out, within the 24-hour period prior to the departure of the consignment. Depending on animal age, establishment status, area and Country of Origin, animals may require disease attestations or pre-import testing for Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, anthrax, Rabies virus, Bluetongue in ovine and caprine animals.
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 such animal is individually identified as follows:
(a) by a conventional ear tag with a visible, legible, and indelible display of the identification code of the animal; and
(b) by one of the following means of identification; either an electronic ear tag, ruminal bolus or electronic pastern band, approved by the competent authority of the Member State where the ovine and caprine animals are kept with legible and indelible display of the identification code of the animal.
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 OV/CAP-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 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 ovine/caprine animals during the clinical examination, which was carried out, within the 24-hour period prior to the departure of the consignment. Depending on animal age, establishment status, area and Country of Origin, animals may require disease attestations or pre-import testing for Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, Brucella Ovis, epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus, anthrax, surra, Rabies virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (M. bovis, M. caprae and M. tuberculosis), Bluetongue, scrapie in ovine and caprine animals.
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.
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:
- a completed SG2 Notification of sheep/goat movement
- the hard copy INTRA trade certificate (or the number of the certificate if digitally signed or sealed)
You may be contacted by a DAERA official to organise post movement testing to safeguard the NI agricultural industry from diseases such as:
- Mycoplasma mycoides
- Maedi Visna (MV)
- Brucella melitensis,
- Brucella ovis
- Bluetongue (BT)
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.