Import of Breeding and Production Cattle from Great Britain

You must apply to DARD Trade Section (TEL 028 905 20989) at least 10 working days prior to import to obtain a Specific import licence permitting you to import animals from Great Britain. The licence conditions are set out below:

Port of Entry

Landing must take place at the port of Larne and the person in charge of the animals must report immediately following disembarkation to a Portal Inspector and must co-operate with DARD staff as required. Animals may not leave the Port until a Portal Inspector has authorised
such departure.

Cattle Identification Requirements

Each animal must bear an identification tag in each ear and be accompanied by a Passport confirming the following details:-

  1. The official identification code of the ear tag marks;
  2. The date of birth;
  3. Identification code (the ear marks) of the dam;
  4. The sex and breed;
  5. The official identification number issued by the competent veterinary authority to the holding of birth;
  6. The movement history of the animals since birth i.e. official identification numbers issued by the competent veterinary authority to all holdings where the animal has resided since birth and the dates of movement from each holding.

Health Certificate Guarantees

The cattle being imported must be accompanied by an original valid health certificate signed by an Official Veterinary Surgeon appointed by the appropriate authority in Great Britain identifying the name and address of the consignor and consignee, the address of the premises of origin
and destination, giving the description, ear number, sex, date of birth and category of each animal to which it relates.

The health certificate referred to above must certify that:

  1. The herd from which the cattle originate is officially Tuberculosis and Brucellosis free;
  2. Within 24 hours of export to Northern Ireland all cattle described on the certificate were clinically examined, were found to be free from evidence of infectious or contagious disease and fit to travel and their identification marks were seen to be clear and as stated on the schedule;
  3. That they are not animals required to be slaughtered under a programme to control or eradicate an infectious or contagious disease; and
  4. Cattle being imported into Northern Ireland mustnot be vaccinated against Foot and Mouth Disease.

Residency Requirements

Animals have remained in a single holding of origin for a period of 30 days prior to loading, or since birth.

Supplementary Certificate Guarantees and Testing Requirements

The imported animals must also be accompanied by a supplementary certificate signed by a Private Veterinary Practitioner certifying that the
animals have been subjected to a Tuberculosis test within 30 days prior to export, with negative results. (Cattle under 42 days of age are exempt from this test.)

Owner’s Declaration
The owner must attest in the Owner’s Declaration, if appropriate, that any animals less than 90 days of age (and their transport vehicle) has been
treated with insecticide within 24 hours prior to movement.

Cleansing and Disinfection Requirements

The transport vehicle must have been cleansed so as to remove all visible organic matter. It must be disinfected with a disinfectant approved by
Defra and treated with an approved insecticide prior to loading the animals. The imported animals must not come into contact with animals that are not certified to the same health status.

Post Import conditions

Immediately after landing imported cattle must be moved directly to the holding of destination in Northern Ireland as shown in the health certificate. The person in charge of the holding of destination of the imported animals must advise the local Divisional Veterinary Officer of their
arrival within 7 days following importation. This requires the importer to confirm movement of the animals onto the farm by submitting an MC2 to their local DARD Office.

Source: DARDni.gov.uk