Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
484. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all pets including cats and dogs that have come into the State from abroad have been the subject of the veterinary checks that are required under legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17605/24]
View answerAll animals entering Ireland are subject to EU sanitary requirements. These requirements are in place to reduce the risk of importation and spread of disease. The requirements for animals generally to enter Ireland are outlined in the EU Animal Health Law, Regulation (EU) 429/2016 on transmissible animal diseases and refer to intra-community trade and imports into the Union.
The specific entry requirements for pets; dogs, cats and ferrets; are outlined in Regulation (EU) 576/2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals. Any animal which does not meet the health requirements set out in these regulations are quarantined or returned to the country of origin.
Pet animals entering Ireland require health certification and are subject to documentation and health checks at the Border Control Post (BCP) upon entry. Whilst all pets entering from third countries are checked for compliance, pets entering from the EU undergo spot checks. If a pet fails compliance checks it may be refused entry into Ireland and returned to the country of origin or may be placed into quarantine.
In accordance with Article 32 of Regulation (EU) 576/2013 and, by way of derogation from the conditions provided for non-commercial movements of pet animals, Member States may, in exceptional situations, authorise the non-commercial movement into their territory of pet animals which do not comply with the conditions in Regulation (EU) 756/2013.
Temporary special arrangements were put in place in March 2022 for pets from Ukraine by way of derogation under Article 32. Where these pets were not fully compliant with EU regulations, my Department took measures to bring these animals into compliance to protect our domestic population and protect public health.
From 21st November 2022, all pets entering Ireland from Ukraine were expected to be fully compliant with EU regulations.
