PR178-07 Guidance on Trade Conditions - Live Animals and Imported Meat 11/10/07
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced a further limited relaxation in trade conditions for live animals to be exported to Great Britain.
The Department has also confirmed that from 12 October 2007 the ban on the importation of meat, minced meat and meat preparations from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be relaxed, subject to certain conditions.
The relaxation for live animal movement involves the one way movement of animals from Northern Ireland to approved abattoirs, single holdings and livestock markets in the FMD Low Risk area in Britain outside the Bluetongue zones, subject to case by case assessment and strict risk mitigating conditions. The situation will be reviewed immediately if any new outbreaks occur in Britain.
In cases where permission is granted for a move, additional strict bio-security conditions will have to be adhered to. These may include the non-return of livestock trailers until such times as the disease risk permits.
These moves are strictly on a one-way only basis and no animals will be permitted to return to Northern Ireland.
The Department emphasised that the relaxation of the ban on the movement of animals to specific parts of GB should not be taken as a sign that farmers, processors or people travelling, should relax their guard against the importation of foot and mouth disease (FMD) or Bluetongue (BT). The risks involved in the movement of transport vehicles, equipment or people should not be underestimated.
DARD wishes to remind farmers and the rural community that they must remain vigilant, check their stock at least daily, and maintain strong bio-security. Any suspicion of disease must be reported immediately to your private vet or local Divisional Veterinary Office.
Before coming into contact with farm livestock in GB, famers should consider whether their visit is essential and they are prepared to take the risk of carrying disease back to Northern Ireland.
If you consider that you must travel, then these are minimum precautions you should take.
- Restrict your movements, if possible, to low risk locations
- If you have been in contact with farm livestock, all clothing, footwear and any equipment used while handling animals should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected before return to Northern Ireland.
- Wash hands immediately after handling animals, and shower or bath as soon as possible and practice thorough personal hygiene.
- Avoid contact with other farm livestock in Northern Ireland for at least a week.
- Vehicles which are permitted to return must be completely cleansed and then disinfected such that they are free of faecal or soil contamination, and of any bedding or feeding material on landing in Northern Ireland. This should include the driving or living accommodation of any such vehicle. Any vehicle found to be unclean in the opinion of a DARD Portal Inspector shall be re-exported to Scotland.
- You should be aware of the biosecurity requirements of any markets, abattoirs and farms and comply with them.
- Do not land any food or food waste. Surrender all animal and dairy products to an officer of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
- If you have recently been in contact with farm animals, or are travelling from or to a farm premises, on return you must report to an officer of DARD at the port or airport.
Turning to meat exports, the European Commission’s Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has issued a decision allowing exports of meat to other Member States from cattle, sheep and pigs originating in low risk areas of Great Britain. Export health certification will be needed to demonstrate that the meat is derived from animals originating from these areas. There are certain other requirements that have to be met, such as a 90 day residence period in the “free” counties, and compliance with a 30 day residency/21 day standstill on a single holding prior to slaughter. DARD has agreed that the decision will apply to imports from Great Britain into Northern Ireland.
Low risk areas include Scotland, Wales, and most of north, west and south-west England. The meat should bear a health mark in accordance with Regulation 854/2004. The Decision does not extend to cover farmed or wild game meat.
All consignments of meat from Great Britain must comply with the conditions as detailed in General Import Licence (DARD/GEN/07/17) which will be available on 12 October. Each consignment must be accompanied by:-
- a commercial document;
- an attestation signed by a responsible company manager that certain food items are not from the areas as listed in Annex 1 of 2007/554/EC (as amended); and
- an export health certificate.
The Department continues to liaise closely with Defra, other Devolved Administrations to monitor the situation, and with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Dublin to maintain the all-island approach.
The Department reminded farmers that a ban remains on the importation of live animals from GB.
The Department also highlighted that farmers should adhere to the strictest tracing, tagging and bio-security arrangements. DARD emphasised that it will take action against offenders in this regard.
Further advice can be obtained by contacting your local Divisional Veterinary Office or on the DARD website http://www.dardni.gov.uk/index/animal-health/animal-diseases/footandmouth.htm and http://www.dardni.gov.uk/index/animal-health/animal-diseases/bluetongue/bluetongue-questions-answers.htm
NOTES FOR EDITORS
All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, tel: 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.