ANIMAL MOVEMENT

Horses

Premises Registration 
As from 1 May 2012, any premises (which includes shows, fairs and markets) where horses or other equines are gathered must be registered with the Department.  Owners/persons in charge of such gatherings are required to submit a completed application form for registration and to keep records of movements on/off their premises. 

Records must be retained for at least 3 years as they may be required by the Department for the purposes of tracing disease. Records required are

  • The name and address of the owner/person in charge of the premises from which the equine came
  • The premises registration number from which the equine came and 
  • Passport number/UELN number of the animal

It is important therefore that Show organisers should contact their local Regional Veterinary Office in advance so that consideration can be given to compliance with the requirements outlined above. 

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/form/19428-application-for-registration-of-an-equine-premises-under-the-control -on-places-where-horses-are-kept-regulations-2014/

Equine Identification
All Equines (which include horses, ponies and donkeys) must be identified in accordance with EU and national legislation. 

  • It is an offence to be in possession of an equine that is not properly identified.  
  • Equine passports must be issued by approved Passport Issuing Organisations [PIOs] not later than 12 months from the date of birth of the animal and, in any event before the equine leaves the establishment of birth for a period exceeding 30 days, except in limited circumstances.  The passport is valid for the lifetime of the animal.  A list of the PIOs approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is set out in Appendix 5.
  • Microchip - all equines issued with a passport after 1st July 2009 must have a corresponding microchip implanted by a veterinarian, the details of which are recorded in the passport and in the central equine database, thereby creating a link between the passport and the animal. 
  • In respect of each equine in their care, a keeper must ensure that
    • the equine is registered with an approved PIO; 
    •  the animal’s passport is issued in accordance with EU and national legislation;
    • they are in compliance with the provisions of the legislation whereby the passport issued in respect of the equine must accompany the animal whenever it is moved to events such as shows, sales and to slaughter plants, etc.    

Further information is available from Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, - at Livestock Breeding, Production and Trade Division, Farnham St, Cavan (Phone +353 49 4368200) in respect of studbook equines and from Animal Identification and Movement Division, Backweston Administration Building, Stacumny Lane, Celbridge, Co Kildare, W23 X3PH (Phone +353 1 5058881) in respect of equines that do not qualify for entry into a studbook.
 

Cattle

Animal Health Status
TB - Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Scheme 
All animals must come from herds, which are Officially TB free (OTF - i.e., not restricted) and the herd and relevant animals must have had a clear test within the previous 12 months – this test must be recorded on the Department’s Animal Health Computer System (AHCS).  In general, apart from cows of all ages and males over the age of 36 months (see next paragraph), no pre-movement test is required for TB.  However, it is recommended by the Department that a 30-day pre-movement test for TB should apply to all Shows.  Animals which have disclosed inconclusive reactor results are not permitted to be moved for the purpose of exhibition at shows.  

From the 1 February 2023, cows of all ages and males over the age of 36 months that move from a show to a different herd must either have been tested in the previous 30 days or the animal and the herd presenting it to the show must have been tested in the previous six months prior to movement.  If a cow of any age, or a male over the age of 36 months, moves from a show to a different herd and does not meet the above criteria then a TB test must be carried out on the animal concerned within 30 days of its movement into the new herd.  If after 30 days, the animal has not been tested, the herd into which it has moved will be restricted and if, after a further 60 days the animal has still not been tested then the entire herd will be listed for a TB test.  For further information see new bovine TB testing requirements for animal movements on www.bovinetb.ie 

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) 
All bovine animals must have a negative BVD status for BVD virus (not antibody) when moving, including to shows, within the state.  Animals entering the state, including Northern Ireland, must have a valid E.U. Health Certificate.

Identification, Registration, Movement Inspections  
The restriction of a holding for noncompliance with IDR related issues will also impact movement of bovine to a show for the period of the restriction.           

Bovine Identification & Mandatory Electronic Identification of bovines (EID)
Mandatory electronic identification (EID) of bovines has been implemented with effect from 1st July 2022.  This means that all bovine animals born on or after 1st July 2022 must be identified with 2 official flag tags, one of which contains an EID component. All bovines born prior to 1st July 2022 must continue to bear 2 official flag tags as heretofore.  There is no mandatory requirement that bovines in this age category bear an official EID tag.  

Passports 
All bovines attending shows must be accompanied by their passports.

Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) Notification

  1. The movement of cattle to and from an Agricultural Show/Fair within the State must be recorded on the AIM System. 
  2. With effect from 4 February 2019 there is a specific Certificates of Compliance for the “Movement of Bovine from a Single Holding to a Show”, form NBAS 31K refers. 
  3. The herd keeper must obtain the Certificate of Compliance prior to the movement of animals.  The certificate can be created by (i) using herd keepers’ on-line facility or (ii) where the keeper is not on-line the certificate can be generated by the local Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) following receipt of a completed form NBAS 31K. 
  4. The creation of a certificate is subject to normal movement criteria such as clear TB test etc.  
  5. A copy of form NBAS 31K is included at Appendix 2 and will also be available on www.gov.ie.
  6. When applying for this certificate, the Show/Fair number is not required. The certificate generated will include an “S” symbol.
  7. The Certificate of Compliance for a show will continue to be valid for a period of up to 30 days.  As is currently the case, these can be used for the movement of animal/s to several shows during the validity period of the certificate.  Requests to the RVO should be provided with sufficient time to allow for the certificate to be generated and issued especially where one cert expires, and another is required immediately.  Keepers who are likely to attend at consecutive shows are strongly advised to apply using herd keepers’ on-line facility.  The ability to create and print a certificate immediately (subject to the bovine meeting the relevant criteria) will remove issues which can arise where a certificate is already in place and a further certificate is required. 
  8. Calves which are less than 10 days old cannot be moved to a Show.
  9. The Movement Notification Section of the Certificate should be completed and signed by the keeper.  The form should also be signed and stamped by the Show Secretary who must clearly indicate the Show Number.  The Show movement must be recorded on the passport.  Ultimate responsibility for fulfilling these requirements lies with the Show Secretary.
  10. If the animal/s move from the show to a herd other than the source herd, the new destination herd must also sign the certificate.
  11. Completed forms must be sent by the Show Secretary to the local RVO within seven days of the Show. Failure to have movements recorded within the required time scale may have implications for the herd keeper/s involved.