Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2004
124 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position with regard to the measures being taken to ensure that the condition relating to the granting of export licences are monitored and enforced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Amharc ar fhreagra125 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position with regard to the penalties applied to the abuse of licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10274/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra126 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position with regard to the reason there is no minimum value impediment applied here as is done in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10275/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 124 to 126, inclusive, together.
Trade in horses between member states and from member states to third countries is governed by specific EU Commission decisions which establish the health conditions and certification to be applied to such animals for trade purposes. However, a derogation from these rules has operated for many years in relation to trade between Ireland, France and the UK, under a tripartite agreement based on a common animal health position in the equine sector.
Under this agreement, horses travelling between Ireland and the UK and registered horses travelling between Ireland and France and do not have to be certified, though they must be individually identified by means of their passports or, in the case of non-registered horses travelling between Ireland and the UK, by way of a current marking sheet. Both registered and non registered horses are subject to spot checks by an official veterinarian at the port of departure.
In so far as horses traded outside of tripartite countries are concerned, my Department has not issued export certificates for horses for slaughter in recent times. All horses certified by my Department are intended for breeding, racing, jumping and sport use. I should however point out that trade in horses for slaughter is covered by relevant EU regulations and, subject to compliance with animal health and welfare legislation, is a legitimate trade. Regarding the application of a rule prohibiting the export of horses under a certain value, I am advised that this would constitute an unlawful barrier to free trade.
The European Communities (Trade in Animals and Animal Products) Regulations, 1994, (S.I. No. 289 of 1994) provide that a person who exports live animals other than in compliance with the veterinary and zootechnical legislation of the European Community may be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both.
