Domestic Animal Cross-Border

Import of Hobby Birds

(Birds other than Poultry and Pet Birds)

Import of hobby birds from EU Member States is by way of General Authorisation (i.e. no licence required). However certain conditions apply. Importers must give the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine advance notification of the intended import. The birds must be accompanied by an owner’s declaration and, in the case of psittacine species, an appropriate health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the country of export or by a registered Veterinary Practitioner in accordance with Council Directive 92/65/EEC and based on the model in Commission Regulation 599/2004/EC. The birds must come from a premises approved in accordance with Council Directive 92/65/EEC.

Import of hobby birds from non-EU Member States is only permitted from those regions/countries listed in Commission Regulation 798/2008 as amended by Commission Regulation 215/2010. The birds must be accompanied by an import licence issued by the Department and the appropriate health certificate in accordance with Commission Regulation 318/2007 as amended by Commission Regulation 239/2010. The birds must undergo a specified quarantine period and upon first entry to the EU the birds must be checked at an EU Border Inspection Post approved for the inspection of live animals. There are no BIP or quarantine facilities in Ireland so this will have to be undertaken in another Member State.

Import of Pet Animals, Cats, Dogs and Ferrets

(Non-Commercial Movement) Cats, Dogs or Ferrets To/From Other Member States of the EU

Persons travelling on holiday or to permanently locate their residence (or other non- commercial movement where there is no sale or change of ownership involved) to/ from Ireland to/from another EU Member States may bring their pet cat, dog, or ferret with them provided the following conditions are met:
• The pet must be identified by a microchip (a transponder readable by a device compatible with ISO standard 11785);
• The animal must be accompanied by an EU Pet Passport in respect of the animal which demonstrates that the animal is currently immunized against rabies;
• In cases where a dog is being brought in from countries other than Finland, Malta or the UK, that it has been treated against Echinococcus Multilocularis (tapeworm) not more than 120 hours (5 days) and not less than 24 hours (1 day) prior to scheduled arrival time in Ireland;
• In cases where the number of animals being moved exceeds 5, a veterinary health certificate to demonstrate that the animals have been clinically examined within 48 hours of departure is also required unless the owner can show proof that the animals are being brought to compete in a sporting event or other competition.

Cats, dogs or ferrets from other Member States of the EU may enter Ireland through any port/airport of entry and may be transported by any airline or ferry company operating within the State that is willing to transport such animals. The operator of such airline/ ferry company is legally obliged under the Pet Passport (No. 2) Regulations 2014 to notify the intended arrival of the animals to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine by email to petmove@agriculture.gov.ie at least 24 hours in advance. As regards air travel, the Department does not require that pets from the EU be carried as manifested freight and it is therefore a matter for the airlines to decide whether to carry the animal in the cabin or as excess baggage.

Cats, Dogs or Ferrets from Non-EU Countries

Persons travelling on holiday or to permanently locate their residence (or other non-commercial movement where there is no sale or change of ownership involved) to Ireland from a ‘low- risk’ non-EU country (see list in Annex 11 to Commission Implementing Regulation 577/2013 ) or a ‘high risk’ country (in which case a rabies titre test is required) may bring their pet cat, dog, or ferret with them provided the following conditions are met:
• An approved airline/pet cargo carrier must be used. A list of the approved airlines/cargo handlers is available on the Department’s website.
• Pets from Non-EU low-risk countries may enter Ireland via Dublin Airport only.
• The pet must be identified by a microchip (a transponder readable by a device compatible with ISO standard 11785);
• The animal must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate in the form of Annex IV to Commission Implementing Decision 577/2013 to certify that the animal is currently immunized against rabies;
• A blood test at least 30 days after rabies vaccination to confirm a neutralising antibody titration at least equal to 0.5 IU/ml. The pet may enter Ireland only when at least three months has expired since a successful blood-test;
• Dogs must be treated against Echinococcus Multilocularis (tapeworm) not more than 120 hours (5 days) and not less than 24 hours (1 day) prior to scheduled arrival time in Ireland or depending on the country of origin;
• Evidence that the movement is for non-commercial purposes must be presented to the approved airline in advance (air ticket reservation etc.)

Cats, dogs or ferrets from the outside of the EU may enter Ireland only through Dublin airport (unless already cleared to enter the EU at a point of entry in another Member State) and must be transported by an approved airline which will carry out checks for compliance upon arrival. The operator of such airline/ cargo company is legally obliged under the Pet Passport (No. 2) Regulations 2014 to notify the arrival of the animals to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine by email to petmove@agriculture.gov.ie at least 24 hours
in advance and the pets must be carried as manifested freight.

Rules on Commercial Movement

(i.e sale or change of ownership) of all dogs, cats and ferrets

Exports of dogs, cats or ferrets to other Member States
Persons wishing to trade dogs, cats or ferrets to other EU Member States must:
1. Register the premises on which the animals are born and/or reared (from which they are being exported) with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Pet animals of these species may only be traded from registered premises.
2. Ensure that each animal (including each pup/kitten) is  identified by a microchip (a transponder readable by a device compatible with ISO standard 11785) and is

• accompanied by an EU Pet Passport* showing a record of –
(i) Microchip identification of the animal, including date of insertion (which must precede date of vaccination);
(ii) Proof of immunization against rabies. Animals must be a minimum of 12 weeks old before a rabies vaccine can be administered. The immunity takes effect 21 days after vaccination, so in fact pups must be a minimum of 15 weeks of age before they are eligible to travel between Member States of the EU;
(iii) That the animal underwent a clinical veterinary examination within 48 hours of departure, to confirm that the animal shows no signs of diseases and is fit to be transported for the intended journey.
(iv) Details of veterinary treatments (anti-echinococcus treatment, other anti-parasite treatments and other vaccinations) administered as required.
3. Ensure that each consignment is accompanied by a veterinary health (‘Balai’) certificate issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine within 48 hours of scheduled departure time. (Health certificates available from local offices of the Department see list and contact details).
4. Ensure that animals have access to food and water for the duration of the journey. Detailed guidelines on the welfare of these animals during transport are included in a document on the Departments’ website.
5. Ensure that animals are consigned out of the country by an approved Type 2 transporter only.

Dogs/cats moving in trade to other EU Member States may leave Ireland through any of the ferry ports. In the event that such animals are found not to be compliant with the Regulation they will be denied travel and will be returned to place of origin at the owner’s expense. It is an offence under the Pet Passport (No.2 ) Regulations 2014 to import or export or to attempt to import or export a dog, cat or ferret in contravention of the Regulations.

Import into Ireland of other Pets

(Rodents and Rabbits)

Requirements for importing pet rodents and Lagomorphs (rabbits) from EU Member States
Persons coming to Ireland from another EU Member State may import to Ireland their pet rodents or rabbits provided the following conditions are met:
• The pets are accompanied en route by the owner or a person acting on behalf of the owner;
• A Form of Advance Notice of Import must be sent to the Animal Health and Welfare Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 WK12, at least 24 hrs in advance of arrival of consignment in Ireland.

Requirements for importing pet rodents and rabbits from a country which is not a Member State of the European Union.
Persons may bring their pet rodents and rabbits to Ireland from certain non-EU countries provided they are accompanied by a Licence issued by the Animal Health and Welfare Division of the Department. The licence will set out the requirements for import which include a veterinary health certificate, and the animals must be transported in a container which must comply with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations and must be secured with a seal or lock.

Persons wishing to import such pets from Non-EU countries are asked to apply to Animal Health and Welfare Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 WK12 for an import permit. An advance notice of import is also required. Application should be made in sufficient time to enable the pre-export requirements to be completed.

In respect of any non-domestic rodent or rabbit kept as a pet but which may be listed on the CITES list of endangered species, it is the responsibility of the pet owner to check with the Parks and Wildlife section of the Department of the Environment as to whether a CITES
licence is required to import such an animal.

Import into Ireland of Pet Birds

Pet Birds are birds:
• of any species except fowl, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, quails, pigeons, partridges and ratites reared or kept in captivity for breeding, the production of meat or eggs for consumption, or for re-stocking supplies of game,
• which are not being traded commercially,
• which travel with the owner or with a person representing the owner.

Imports of pet birds into Ireland will therefore only occur when a person is relocating to Ireland or holidaying here.

Requirements for importing pet birds from EU Member States
Persons bringing their pet birds to Ireland from another EU country on change of residence or on holiday may bring pet birds provided the following conditions are met:
• The birds are accompanied en route by the owner or a person acting on behalf of the owner,
• An Owner Declaration for pet birds must accompany the bird/s en route;
• A Form of Advance Notice of Import must be sent to the Animal Health and Welfare Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 WK12, at least 24 hrs in advance of arrival of consignment in Ireland.

Requirements for importing pet birds from a country which is not a member country of the European Union

Persons bringing their pet birds to Ireland (on change of residence or on holiday only) from a non-EU country (other than Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City State) may import not more than 5 birds. In addition, the birds must be:
• Accompanied en route by the owner or a person acting on behalf of the owner.
• Individually identified.
• Accompanied by a veterinary health certificate signed by an Official Veterinarian to confirm compliance with the pre-export requirements as set out in Commission Decision 2007/25/EC as amended (model certificate included at Annex 11).
• Accompanied by a declaration signed by the owner/person representing the owner in the form contained at Annex 111 in Commission Decision 2007/25/EC as amended.
• Imported either through Dublin Airport or Shannon Airport.

Persons wishing to import pet birds from Non-EU countries are asked to apply to Animal Health and Welfare Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 WK12 for an import permit so as to facilitate the necessary documentary and identity checks upon import. Application should be made in sufficient
time to enable the pre-export requirements to be completed.

Racing Pigeons

Pigeons from Northern Ireland for race release will require an import licence issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Pigeons exported from Ireland to another EU Member State for race release will require an export licence issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.