Under Regulation (EC) No. 998/2003 on the animal health requirements applicable to the movement of pet animals there is free movement of pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) between Ireland and the UK, a rabies free zone. Apart from exports to the UK, all dogs exported from Ireland, both commercial and non-commercial, must be accompanied by a pet passport. This passport is issued by my Department on foot of identification micro-chipping by the Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP). Almost 5,000 passports were issued during 2009, the vast majority for pet (non-commercial) dogs and cats. The PVP subsequently completes sections in the passport concerning rabies vaccination and, in the case of commercial exports, health and fitness to travel, after which the animal concerned may be moved at a time to be decided by the owner. As the official documentation required for moving both pet dogs and commercial dogs is the pet passport, my Department has no specific information on the number of dogs exported from Ireland for commercial purposes.