Publication
Live Animal Imports: Equine Animals from non-EU countries
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
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1. Regulation 2016/429 (‘Animal Health Law’) and Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/692 lay down the rules for entry into the Union, and handling after entry, of live animals imported from outside the EU
2. General terrestrial animal import requirements as detailed at Live Animal Imports apply to horses
The following definitions for equine animals are provided in these Regulations:
• equine animal means an animal of species of solipeds belonging to the genus Equus (including horses, asses, and zebras) and the offspring of crossings of those species;
• registered equine animal means:
(a) a purebred breeding animal of the species Equus caballus and Equus asinus entered or eligible for entry in the main section of a breeding book established by a breed society or breeding body recognised in accordance with Article 4 or 34 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012;
(b) a kept animal of the species Equus caballus registered with an international association or organisation, either directly or through its national federation or branches, which manages horses for competition or racing (‘registered horse’);
• animals intended for slaughter means kept terrestrial animals to be transported, either directly or after undergoing an assembly operation, to a slaughterhouse;
• sanitary group means a group of listed third countries in which common animal health risks as regards diseases listed for equine animals prevail that require specific risk-mitigating measures and health guarantees when equine animals enter into the Union;
1. The list of non-EU countries, territories or parts thereof authorised for the export of equidae are laid down in in Annex IV of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404
2. These authorised countries, territories or parts thereof are categorized into Sanitary Groups (A-G) within which specific animal health guarantees must be met prior to import into the EU.
a. Each of the 7 Sanitary Groups requires that serological tests for certain equine diseases are performed, and negative results obtained. Details available at Annex XI of DR 2020/692
3. General animal health import requirements as detailed at (Link to landing page general requirements) apply to horse movements.
4. Residency periods in the third country of origin apply and vary depending on the category of equine. These are detailed in the PDF below
5. Equine animals must be isolated for the 30 days prior to the date of departure (or since birth) either in the establishment of origin (Sanitary Group A countries) or in a isolation facility (Sanitary Group B, C, D or G countries). This condition does not apply to Registered horses which must have been kept at an establishment under veterinary supervision during this 30 day period.
6. Equine animals must be individually identified by one of the following methods;
a. An injectable transponder (microchip) or ear tag with a unique identification code (2 digit alpha or 3 digit numeric code of exporting country)
b. For equine animals other than those intended for slaughter, an identification document which describes and depicts the animal and contains information on the individual code emitted by an implanted injectable transponder where code does not comply with the specifications above in point (a)
c. Other acceptable identification methods are a conventional ear tag, an electronic ear tag. These must bear a unique number that provides an unequivocal link between the animal and the health certificate. If another form of identification is used (e.g. brand) then this must provide an unequivocal link between the animal and their passport.
1. All equidae must comply with the animal health requirements laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 and be accompanied by the relevant original health certificate, signed by an Official Veterinarian of the veterinary authority in the country of export under one of the following designations:
a. Entry into the Union of equine animals not intended for slaughter (Model EQUI-X)
b. Entry into the Union of equine animals intended for slaughter (Model EQUI-Y)
c. Re-entry into the Union of registered horses for racing, competition and cultural events after temporary export for a period of less than 30 days:
d. Re-entry into the Union of registered horses for competition after temporary export for less than 90 days to participate in equestrian events organised under the auspices of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI):
e. Re-entry into the Union of registered horses for racing after temporary export for a period of not more than 90 days to participate in specific race events in Australia, Canada, the United States of America, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates or Qatar
f. Transit through the Union – horses not intended for slaughter (EQUI-TRANSIT-X) or horses intended for slaughter (EQUI-TRANSIT-Y)
2. In all circumstances, the health certificate must:
• Be issued on the day of loading or, in the case of registered horses, on the last working day before embarkation
• Be in English and the official languages of the country of export and the Member State in which the import inspection is carried out
• Consist of a single sheet or linked sheets following the principles of certification
• Be made out for a single consignee
3. The health cert is valid for a period of 10 days.
4. A foal travelling with its dam is considered a separate equine animal and must be accompanied by its own health certificate and have the required testing performed as per the Sanitary Group status of the country of origin.
1. Live animals entering the Union must be inspected at an EU-approved Border Control Post (BCP) where Member States' official veterinarians ensure they fulfil all the requirements provided for in the EU legislation.
2. The person responsible for the load being imported (the importer or a customs agent acting on their behalf) must give the BCP at the intended point of entry advance notification of the arrival of the consignment.
3. There is a required minimum pre-notification notice period of at least 24 hours’ notice in advance of the consignment’s arrival.
4. Failure to submit correct documentation within this timeline may result in significant delays in the consignment being processed through the Border Control Post.
5. Pre-notification is given by the submission of Part 1 of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED-A), as is laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 2019/1715 through the online TRACES NT system. If multiple horses are travelling on the same means of transport, multiple horses can be notified on the same CHED. It should be noted however that if even a single horse on the CHED fails either the documentary, identity or physical controls at the BCP then the entire CHED would be considered to have failed. The consignment would be rejected and all horses would have to return to point of origin.
6. Copies of other supporting documentation associated with the consignment such as the Health Certificate should be submitted at this time as well.
7. The CHED provides a standardised format for documentation relating to declaration and checks for live animals arriving into the Union so that data on imported consignments can be properly managed and processed within TRACES NT, the EU's integrated veterinary traceability system.
1. All live animals from third countries require veterinary checks at their point of entry into the European Union, as listed in Annex I to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632.
2. EU harmonised import controls are carried out at an approved Border Control Post (BCP) that is designated to deal with that species of animal. The consignment may only enter Ireland through an approved Border Control Post (BCP) designated for that species.
3. There are three different types of designation:
a. E for equine animals,
b. U for ungulate animals
c. O for other animals
4. The following locations in Ireland have approved Border Control Posts in operation for live animals:
a. Dublin Port – Designation for Equine (E) animals, Ungulates (U) animals (excluding bovine, ovine, caprine or porcine species) and Other (O) live animals
b. Rosslare Port – Designation for Equine (E) animals, Ungulates (U) and Other (O) live animals
c. Dublin Airport: - Equine (E) animals only
d. Shannon Airport - Equine (E) animals only
5. Providing all the documentation has been submitted correctly and within the correct timeframes, a large proportion of the documentary check can be commenced in advance of the consignment’s arrival. This includes examination of the veterinary certificate and other documents accompanying a consignment
a. The original hard copy of the health certificate must travel with the consignment, and will be checked and held at the BCP at the point of entry into the EU
6.Provided all is in order with the documentary check, the consignment of live animals will then be subject to an identity check and physical check with/without sampling as appropriate at the BCP.
7.Upon satisfactory completion of the required checks, the decision is entered in Part 2 of the CHED which must accompany the consignment to the first place of destination referred to in the CHED. The consignment of live animals may then circulate freely within the EU.
8.If the consignment does not meet the import requirements, the consignment may be rejected entry and re-exported or in exceptional circumstances, humanely destroyed if necessary.
1. Following entry, the equine animals must travel directly to the establishment of destination as indicated on the CHED and the health certificate.