There have been numerous questions in recent months regarding the latest rules and regulations concerning the import and export of breeding sheep. This is of particular interest to pedigree breeders seeking opportunities to import new bloodlines.

The rules pertaining to imports and exports are being influenced by the bluetongue virus and a focus on minimising the risk of new serotypes being introduced to the island of Ireland. Many of the recent queries from breeders concern imports from Britain.

There is no updated or revised health certificate currently negotiated between the European Union and Britain to take account of the bluetongue virus meaning all imports of sheep and cattle remain suspended. This is the case for Ireland and Northern Ireland. Any sheep or cattle moving from Britain to Northern Ireland also require an EU Export Health Certificate (EHC) meaning that all imports to Northern Ireland from Britain are also suspended. There is no immediate resolution foreseen on this suspension given that bluetongue virus serotype 8 and serotype 12 have been identified in Britain.

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Imports from the EU

With regards imports from the EU breeding sheep and cattle can be imported into Ireland but there are strict regulations that must be adhered to with regards satisfying the requirements of the health certificate currently in place.

Speaking at the recent Teagasc sheep conference, Dr Ruth Sanders from the Department of Agriculture told farmers that with regards the bluetongue virus there is a derogation in place which sets out the exact criteria that member states must satisfy.

There are two criteria of importance. “Independent of age, animals must comply with the following requirements (in accordance with point 7 of Section 1 of Chapter 2 of Part II of Annex V to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689) for all serotypes of BTV 1- 24, with the exception of BTV serotype 3:

  • They have been vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine against all BTV serotypes reported during the past two years in that member state or zone of origin, and subjected to a PCR test, with negative results on samples collected at least 14 days after the onset of the immunity set in the specifications of the vaccine and collected not earlier than 14 days before the date of movement; or
  • They have been subjected with positive results to a serological test able to detect specific antibodies against all serotypes 1-24 reported during the past two years in that Member State or zone of origin, carried out on samples collected at least 30 days before the date of movement and they have been subjected to a PCR test with negative results, carried out on samples collected not earlier than 14 days before the date of movement.

    • An added complication to satisfying regulations is the fact that the duration of immunity is not included in the product specification.

    General rules and regulations

    There are a number of other elements sheep must satisfy. For imports from EU member states they must have been resident on the holding of origin for at least 30 days pre-movement and during this time not have come in contact with ovine or caprine animals of a lower health status.

    They must also not have had direct or indirect contact with kept animals that have entered the EU from a third country. Sheep should have the necessary electronic identification. All uncastrated male sheep must possess a negative blood test for Brucella ovis (ovine epididymitis) and come from holdings which have not reported the disease in the 12 months prior to the date of departure.

    Breeding sheep must also come from a scrapie monitored flock or be genotyped as an ARR/ARR prion protein genotype. Sheep must be checked for clinical signs or symptoms of disease by an official vet within the final 24 hours pre-departure and the vet must specify that all aspects of the health certificate have been met.

    The Department has previously cautioned that any “questions in relation to the ability of the sheep to meet the terms of the certificate should be addressed to the member state which is certifying the animals in the first instance. If the animals arrive and are found not to have fulfilled the certificate requirements, they will be disposed of at the owner’s expense”.

    The Department of Agriculture will also carry out post-entry sampling requirements for bluetongue virus and other diseases of importance.

    Movements to EU member states and Northern Ireland

    The general rules and regulations governing exports to EU member states and Northern Ireland are similar to that listed above.

    For exports to Northern Ireland for breeding purposes sheep certified must meet the health requirements of the Intra-Trade Animal Health Certificate (Model OVI/CAP-INTRA-X) which are similar to the above criteria for imports from EU member states.

    Export of breeding sheep from Ireland to Britain

    The export of breeding sheep from Ireland or Northern Ireland to Britain must satisfy the health requirements of the Great Britain Health Certificate GBHC630.

    Most criteria are exactly the same as described above with one slight difference. Sheep must have been resident on the holding of origin for a period of 40 days pre-movement as opposed to 30 days for the movements already outlined.