Jimmy Deenihan
Question:113 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he intends introducing an export licence for the export of dogs, including pups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8736/04]
View answerTuesday, 23 March 2004
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Written answers
My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has general statutory responsibility for the control of dogs and related issues under the provisions of the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992. I have no plans to introduce a regime of export licensing for dogs.
Under the provisions of the European Communities (Trade in Animals and Animal Semen, Ova and Embryos) Regulations 1996, S.I. 12 of 1996, which transposes Directive 92/65/EEC, my Department provides health certification for exports of traded dogs to other member states, apart from the UK. This certification relates, inter alia, to identification, rabies status and vaccination, distemper vaccination and fitness to travel. Provided there is compliance with animal health rules, there can be no restriction in intracommunity trade in such animals. In recognition of the rabies free status of Ireland and the UK, there is free movement of dogs and cats between these two jurisdictions. The Deputy will appreciate the practical difficulties to which any system requiring the licensing of the movement of dogs to the UK, including Northern Ireland, would give rise.