Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 March 2013
127. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedure involved in the transport of live animals to a destination (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13520/13]
View answerAll animals exported to destinations outside of the European Union are required to be accompanied by a veterinary certificate attesting to animal health requirements as stipulated by the importing country.
The requirements in relation to the transport of live animals on a commercial basis are laid down in Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations. This Regulation sets out the requirements for the authorisation of transporters of live animals, approval of means of transport, transport practices, required documentation etc. The Regulation is implemented in Irish law under the European Communities (Animal Transport and Control Post) Regulations 2006. Accordingly, specific requirements for the transportation of animals to destinations such as Lagos will ultimately depend on the transport method used. For example, livestock vessels used for the transport of animals by sea must be approved in accordance with the aforementioned Regulations and under the Diseases of Animals (Carriage of Cattle by Sea) Orders, 1996 and 1998.
The transport of animals by air is also governed by Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 as well as by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals regulations, which set out the requirements for transporting different animal species by air, including among other things, the container specifications required for their transport.
