Michael Creed
Question:101 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the procedures involved in importing livestock, including sheep, from Great Britain and Northern Ireland. [2775/96]
Written Answers. - Livestock Importation Procedures.
The importation of livestock from other EU member states is governed by a number of EU directives which establish the animal health condition for such trade, e.g.—
—Council Directive 64/432 on trade in cattle and pigs;
—Council Directive 90/426 on trade in horses;
—Council Directive 91/68 on trade in sheep and goats.
Any livestock imported into Ireland must comply with the terms of these directives and, where appropriate, must be accompanied by the health certificate laid down by the relevent directive. By virtue of a further EU decision, however, the importation of cattle from Great Britain and Northern Ireland is prohibited with the exception of very limited exemptions. In the case of sheep and goats imported directly from Northern Ireland, bilateral arrangements are in place in view of the common health status of those sectors.