Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 March 2004
216 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will make a statement on the possible implications for animal health if DARD officials at Larne proceed with their planned industrial action. [7550/04]
View answerI am aware of the ongoing industrial relations dispute involving the Northern Ireland Civil Service. While action which could potentially affect veterinary controls at points of entry on to the island of Ireland is undesirable, EU veterinary health rules place a significant onus on the member state of dispatch in the case of intra-community trade, and on the member state at which the product first enters the territory of the EU in the case of third country imports. Cross-Border trade in live animals has, since the resumption of trade after the foot and mouth disease crisis in 2001, been subject to full intra-community veterinary health rules. These provide that animals traded between member states must be accompanied by official EU veterinary health certificates and identified in accordance with the relevant Council directives.
In so far as intra-community trade in animal-based products is concerned, imports are permitted only where the products are sourced from an approved establishment, are appropriately labelled and travel with a commercial document. The primary onus regarding compliance of goods involved in intra community trade is on the competent authority of the member state of dispatch.
Products imported into the EU from third countries may be imported only through an approved Border inspection post, BIP, at which all of the required veterinary checks are carried out. The port of Larne is not an approved BIP and such products will have already been subjected to the required EU health checks at their initial point of entry into the EU.
