Import conditions for breeding and production pigs from GB
You must apply to DAERA Trade Imports Team (028 90524424) at least 10 working days prior to import to obtain a Specific import licence permitting you to import animals from Great Britain.
Identification requirements
On export, GB pigs are currently identified with an export ear tag or ear tattoo bearing UK plus the animal’s herd mark and an individual number. Following exit, for dispatch to the EU or NI, the ear tag or ear tattoo will need to read GB or 826 plus the animal’s herd mark and an individual 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 pigs 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 at the following link
- Fulfilment of these conditions is a matter for consideration between the exporter and their OV in GB.
Supplementary certificate guarantees
The imported animals must also be accompanied by a supplementary certificate for breeding/production pigs signed by the certifying OV and certifying that:
- There has been no clinical, pathological or serological evidence of Transmissible Gastro-Enteritis (TGE) in any herd in which the pigs have been kept during the past 12 months
- There has been no evidence of swine influenza in the exporting herd during the 12 month period immediately preceding the date of export
- All the pigs to be exported/all those pigs from which pigs to be exported were finally selected at the time of export were isolated in separate airspace(s) as remote from other livestock as possible for a period of not less than 30 days immediately preceding the date of export
- Not sooner than the 21st day of pre-export isolation period referred to above and not more than 30 days prior to the date of export, all the isolated pigs were subjected to the serological tests detailed below. The tests must be carried out by the Central Veterinary Laboratory Weybridge/Lasswade or Veterinary Sciences Division (AFBI) with negative results in the case of every pig tested (either a serum neutralisation test for Transmissible Gastro-Enteritis or an ELISA test for Transmissible Gastro-Enteritis).
Post import conditions
Immediately after landing imported pigs 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, unless they are dispatched directly to a slaughterhouse.
The person in charge of the holding of destination of the imported animals must advise the local Divisional Veterinary Officer of their arrival not later than the next working day following importation. This requires the importer to submit the health certificate and supplementary certificate that accompanied the animals from GB to the local DVO. Imported pigs must be presented to an officer of the Department for checking and post import testing as may be required on the premises of destination.
All pigs moving from GB to NI for breeding and production purposes will need to be re-tagged by the receiving NI keeper. This is because, under the relevant EU law, which will continue to apply to Northern Ireland, animals must be identified, upon entry, with a unique identification code, related to the holding of destination. Pigs must be re-identified within 30 days of arriving in NI and before leaving the holding of destination in NI and the letter “F” should be included on the ear tag after the pig’s individual identification number.
More Useful Links
- Importer checklist for breeding and production pigs from GB
- Owner's declaration for breeding/production pigs
- Identification requirements for imported pigs
Import conditions of slaughter pigs from GB
Identification requirements
Following exit, slaughter pigs for dispatch from GB to the EU or NI must be identified with an ear tag or ear tattoo which will need to read GB or 826 plus the animal’s herd mark and an individual 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 pigs 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 at the following link
- Fulfilment of these conditions is a matter for consideration between the exporter and their OV in GB.
Post import conditions
The imported animals must be moved directly to a slaughter plant in Northern Ireland. Animals must not be moved anywhere else.
On arrival at the meat plant/abattoir the health certificate(s) which accompanied the animals must be given to an officer of DAERA, or in the absence of an officer of DAERA, be given to an employee of the meat plant/abattoir for transmission to the officer of DAERA.
Imported pigs must be presented to an officer of the Department for checking on the slaughter premises
The person in charge of the slaughter plant must advise the local Divisional Veterinary Officer of their arrival not later than the next working day following importation.