Intra-Community Trade in Bovine Animals for Breeding

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL AFFAIRS

INTRA-COMMUNITY TRADE IN SHEEP & GOATS FOR BREEDING

DIRECT FROM THEIR PREMISES OF ORIGIN TO AN EU MEMBER STATE

NOTES FOR GUIDANCE FOR AUTHORISED VETERINARY INSPECTORS

1.KEY DOCUMENTS

The following key documents must be read and understood prior to completing and signing the Intra-trade Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC) for animals of the ovine/caprine species for breeding.

OD (PO) (91/68 EIII)
VSSPT(PO) (91/68 EIII)
EU-BG-S/GNFG AVI PO
EU-BG-S/GCKL AVI PO

/ Owner’s declaration
VS support certificate (premises of origin)
This document
AVI checklist procedures

2.SCOPE

This Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC) 91/68 EIII (2016/2002) Ovine/Caprine for breeding, must be used for sheep and goats for breeding exported from their premises of origin to their destination in another Member State. The signed declaration OD (PO) (91/68 EIII) and Veterinary Service support certificate VSSPT(PO) (91/68 EIII) must be retained by the AVI for record purposes. One certificate should be issued for each consignment of animals, i.e. for animals travelling from one premises of origin to the same place of destination in one vehicle (a lorry with separate trailer counts as two vehicles). The final health certificate may be issued by the AVI following completion of the check-list EU-BG-S/GCKL AVI PO on the basis of the appropriate support documents. The check-list and support documents should be retained by the AVI and must not accompany the export consignment.

3.CERTIFICATION BY AN AVI

This certificate may be signed by an AVI appointed by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs(DAERA) who is on the appropriate panel for export purposes. AVIs should apply their AVI stamp to the certificate in the normal manner. The health certificate must be signed and stamped with the AVI stamp in any ink colour OTHER THAN BLACK.

4.COMPLETING PART I of ITAHC

DESCRIPTION OF ANIMALS

The following information must be entered on eSAVI for all the animals being exported.

Official Identification
Breed
Sex
Age

The age of the animals should be entered using the most suitable age category on eSAVI. The age of the animals should be obtained from the Owner’s declarations and/or the physical characteristics of the animals.

In the case of animals for breeding the sex and breed must be entered on eSAVI. The description entered on eSAVI will appear on the OVNLIC movement licence when it is printed. It should be used as a schedule to the ITAHC. Section I.31 of the ITAHC must be annotated “see attached schedule OVNLIC serial no ------". Each page of the schedule (OVNLIC) must bear:

A page number
The Serial number of the OVNLIC
The ITAHC serial number

The schedule must be stapled inside the health certificate and the AVI should "fan" and stamp over the pages of the schedule and certificate. One corner of the schedule and certificate should be folded over and stamped also.

OFFICIAL IDENTIFICATION OF SHEEP AND GOATS INTENDED FOR EXPORT

Sheep leaving any premises in Northern Ireland must be individually identified with two matching identifiers (usually tags), one of which must carry an EID device. This identification meets the requirements for export to GB or EU member states. Identification must comply with the requirements of The Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (NI) 2009.

Goats born or first tagged after 31st Dec 2009 for export to EU Member States including the Republic of Ireland must be individually identified with 2 matching identifiers (usually tags) one of which mustcarry an EID device.Goats born or first tagged before 31st Dec 2009 for export to EU Member States including the Republic of Ireland must be individually identified with 2 matching identifiers (usually tags) one of which may carry an EID device. Identification must comply with the requirements of The Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order (NI) 2009.

PLACE OF LOADING

I.14 of the certificate refers. The place of loading will be the premises of origin (see I.12 of the certificate) where the final export health certificate is issued.

5.COMPLETING PART II of the ITAHCHEALTH INFORMATION

II. 1 COUNTRY OF BIRTH(any option which does not apply should be deleted). The AVI should have a written owner’s declaration OD (PO) (91/68 EIII) with regard to the country in which the animals have been born and reared.Flock records should be checked to verify this and, if necessary, a photocopy taken. Where the sheep or goats have been born and reared since birth in any EU member state the first option should be selected. Sheep or goats which have been legally imported into the European Community from a third country in accordance with harmonised Community rules or legally imported into NI from a third country in accordance with an import licence issued by DAERA and subsequently resident in NI for at least 30 days, comply with the second option at II.1. If the AVI has reason to doubt the validity of the declaration, your local DEARA office should be consulted.

II.2.1CLINICAL INSPECTION

The examination should be carried out within 24 hours of loading. For the purposes of export certification, EC legislation does not differentiate between the terms inspection and examination and in general the terms inspection and visual examination are synonymous. The pre-export examination or inspection should consist of a visual appraisal and if deemed appropriate, physical examination of the animals for export. AVIs must use their professional judgement to decide what is required in order to ensure that no animal is exported which shows clinical signs of disease, and that animals are fit to travel to their intended destination. Each animal subject to an inspection must be appraised as an individual. The date of the inspection should be entered at II.2.1 of the ITAHC in ink of any colour other than black.

II.2.2 – II.2.5NOTIFIABLE DISEASE CLEARANCE

AVIs may certify II.2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 of the ITAHC on behalf of the Department, provided written authority to do so has been obtained from the local DAERA Office/AVI on a Veterinary Service support certificate VSSPT(PO) (91/68 EIII). You should also have a completed Owner’s Declaration declaring these disease freedoms.

II.3 RESIDENCY & STANDSTILL

You will require a completed Owner’s DeclarationOD (PO) (91/68 EIII) to enable you to certify II.3 of the ITAHC. The flock records may be checked to verify this. If necessary, take a copy for your records.

If the flock-keeper selects par 5.(c)(ii) on the Owner’s Declaration – i.e. use of an approved export isolation facility for moved in animals, you should check that the flockkeeper has a current approved export isolation facility by viewing the “Licence for Operation of an Export Isolation Facility” and checking that it is still valid. The license is valid for one year from the date of issue. Alternatively you could check this by contacting your local DAERA office.

II.4 ADDITIONAL GUARANTEES

II.4 should be deleted as no additional guarantees have been given by any Member State.

II.5 & II.6 BRUCELLOSIS FREEDOM

In accordance with Commission Decision 93/52/EEC (as amended) the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is recognised as officially free of brucellosis (B melitensis) and therefore all holdings in Northern Ireland (NI) are officially brucellosis-free (B melitensis). The AVI should insert ‘United Kingdom and ‘93/52’ in the statement after the “either” in II.5 and delete the remainderof II.5 andII. 6 (all except first 2 lines)

II.7. CONTAGIOUS EPIDIDYMITIS (Brucella ovis) – Rams only

Delete all of II.7. if no uncastrated breeding rams are in the consignment being certified.

II.7.(i) Absence of Contagious Epididymitis.

This may be certified on behalf of the Department, provided written authority to do so has been obtained from the local DAERA Office/AVI on a Veterinary Service support certificate VSSPT(PO) (91/68 EIII).

II.7.(ii).Residency of Rams

Each breeding ram to be exported must have remained on the holding of origin for a continuous period of 60 days immediately prior to export. You should be in receipt of a declaration from the owner OD (PO) (91/68 EIII).This period of residency is not required in the case of male goats.

II.7.(iii) Pre-export testing (Rams only))

Blood samples must be taken from all rams for export and sent to AFBI (Agrifood and Biosciences Institute) for testing using the complement fixation test for Brucella ovis. A negative result is less than 50 icftu/ml. This test is not required in the case of male goats.

II.8 OTHER DISEASE FREEDOMS

The AVI must obtain an owner’s declaration OD (PO) (91/68 EIII) and a Veterinary Service Support certificates VSSPT(PO) (91/68 EIII)with regard to the assurances in this paragraph. If any of the sheep for export have come into contact with sheep or goats from other holdings where disease has occurred within the specified time periods, those animals are disqualified from export but this does not disqualify any other sheep or goats on the exporting holding which comply with the requirement of II8. If the AVI has doubt as to the validity of the declaration, the health certificate must not be signed and the local DVO should be consulted.

II.9. SCRAPIE REQUIREMENTS

Export of Sheep & Goats to Austria Denmark, Finland and Sweden only

Commission Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 provides additional guarantees to Austria Denmark, Finland and Sweden for scrapie as they have an approved national scrapie control programme. Please contact Trade Branch for guidance in the event of being asked to certify sheep or goats to these countries.

Export of Sheep & Goats to EU Member states except Austria, Denmark, Finland and Sweden

Sheep or Goats may be exported to EU Member States except Austria, Denmark, Finland or Sweden if:

1. They are exported from flocks or herds in the Scrapie Monitoring Scheme (See Section (A) below)

2. They are sheep (but not goats) of Genotype ARR/ARR. (See Section (B) below)

(A) Sheep and Goats from Scrapie Monitored Flocks/Herds

The flock or herd of origin may comply with the scrapie requirements for intra-Community trade in sheep or goats for breeding to these countries by registration in the DAERA Scrapie Monitoring Scheme. Written confirmation must be obtained from the local DVO VSSPT(PO) (91/68 EIII)that the flock/herd of origin is registered. In addition, compliance with the requirements of the scrapie monitoring scheme should be confirmed through the Owner’s Declaration OD (PO) (91/68 EIII).

There are two Scrapie options on the ITAHC at partII.9.

For sheep/goats from Scrapie Monitored flocks/herds the paragraphs (as below) should be certified:

[II.9.The animals are intended for a Member State or zone of a Member State other than those listed in point 2.3. of Section A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC)No 999/2001 as having a negligible risk status for classical scrapie or other than those listed in point 3.2. of that Section as having an approved national scrapie control programme, and

(1)and/or [come from a holding recognised as having a controlled risk of classical scrapie in accordance with point 1.3. of Section A of Chapter A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 and listed as such by the competent authority of the Member State in accordance with point 1.1. of that Section.]

All other options should be deleted.

(B) Sheep of ARR/ARR Genotype (N.B. this option does not apply to goats)

Sheep of the ARR/ARR prion protein genotype may be certified for intra-Community trade even if they come from flocks which are not registered in the DAERA Scrapie Monitoring Scheme provided they do not come from flocks under restriction as a result of confirmation of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in the flock.

To be ARR/ARR genotyped, the blood sample for testing must have been taken:

(i) by a Private Veterinary Practitioner as part of the Northern Ireland Scrapie Plan (NISP) or the National Scrapie Plan (NSP) in Great Britain;

(ii)by a Private Veterinary Practitioner and tested by Animal and Plant Health Agency (AHPA), the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC);

(iii) by a Private Veterinary Practitioner and tested at any officially approved EU laboratory with ISO17025 accreditation.

You must be in receipt of a certificate, produced under any of the above schemes, to confirm the ARR/ARR genotype. Please note, any certificates produced using option (iii) abovemust state that a Veterinarian took the blood sample and include the name and address of the Veterinarian.

For sheep being certified on the basis of ARR/ARR genotype the paragraphs (as below) should be certified:

(1)and/or [come from a holding not subject to the measures laid down in points 3 and 4 of Chapter B of Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 and the animals are of the ovine species of the ARR/ARR prion protein genotype.]

All other options should be deleted.

II.10.1 – II.10.3TRANSPORT

II.10.1 Cleansing and Disinfection of Vehicle etc

The AVI must obtain a written declaration from the owner/transporter/exporter OD (PO) (91/68 EIII) that the animals will be transported from the holding in vehicles previously cleansed and disinfected with a DAERA approved disinfectant and “in such a way as to provide effective protection of the animals’ health status”. This means transport without coming into contact with cloven-hoofed animals other than those of a similarly certified level of health status, i.e. for breeding.

II.10.2 DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF JOURNEY

The date when the consignment is due to start its journey should be entered.

II.10.3 FITNESS FOR TRANSPORT

See “Welfare Section” below.

BLUETONGUE (BT): EXEMPTION FROM EXIT BAN

Northern Ireland is officially free from Bluetongue so Part II, Section Bluetongue (BT) – exemption from the exit ban – BT-1, BT-2, BT-4 and BTA1 to BTA8 should all be deleted. However, if animals moving out of NI to another Bluetongue free zone are transiting a restricted zone then insecticide treatment of vehicles is required, in which case BT-3 should be completed - otherwise BT-3 should be deleted.

6.FINAL COMPLETION OF ITAHC

Having completed all the checks, tests etc and ensuring the ITAHC is fully completed and all appropriate deletions have been made the AVI must sign and stamp the certificate with the AVI’s official stamp in ink of any colour other than black.

In addition, an ITAHC printed in the language of the country of destination must accompany the consignment to its final destination. (AVIs registered on TRACES will have to produce their own foreign language copy.) The date and AVI stamp should be applied to the unsigned foreign language version. Parts I and II of the completed (English language) ITAHC must be placed on top of the MS language Parts I and II, then stapled and fan stamped together as a single certificate to accompany the consignment to the destination premises.

7.SENDING OF TRACES NOTIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF EXPORT ON eSAVI

In order to meet the requirement for notification of animal movements to other Member States, AVIs must complete a TRACES notification immediately following the signature of the ITAHC. The export must also be declared on e-SAVI. This process removes the animals exported out of the exporting flock list.

8.CANCELLATION OR CHANGES TO THE CONSIGNMENT DETAILS FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION

If the consignment is

cancelled, or
its date/time of departure has changed significantly, or
a different vehicle is used, or
all the animals are not loaded,

The AVI must send a replacement TRACES message giving details of the changes and notify DAERA of animals not exported (if declaration on e AVI has already been done).

9.WELFARE

Council Regulation 1/2005 lays down the provisions for the protection of animals during transport. The Regulation is enforced in Northern Ireland by the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Regulations (NI) 2006. Article 3 of the EU Regulation requires that animals must be fit for the intended journey before the journey starts and must remain sufficiently fit throughout the journey and that no person shall transport them in a way likely to cause injury or undue suffering. This means that animals should be healthy enough to tolerate the entire journey they are about to make (including loading, unloading and any journey breaks) with no or very little adverse effect on them and that the journey should not cause the animals any suffering or injury. Animals not considered to be fit for transport include those that:

are unable to move independently without pain or to walk unassisted;
present a severe open wound, or prolapse;
are pregnant females for whom 90% or more of the expected gestation period has already passed, or females who have given birth in the previous week;
are new-born mammals in which the navel has not completely healed;
are lambs of less than one week unless they are transported less than 100 km.

As certifying AVI you must reject any animal where, in your professional judgement, there is doubt over its fitness on the intended journey. Further detailed guidance on the fitness requirements can be obtained from the DAERA website

10.TRANSPORTER AUTHORISATION AND VEHICLE CERTIFICATION

Articles 10 and 11 of Council Regulation 1/2005 require transporters of animals to be authorised, and Article 18 requires that the vehicle or trailer used to transport animals on long journeys has a certificate of approval.

For journeys over 65km (approx. 40 miles), transporters must:

Hold a transporter authorisation.
If transporting horses, farmed animals or poultry, ensure drivers and attendants are in possession of a certificate of competence (from January 2008).
Demonstrate that they have appropriate staff and equipment to transport animals in a proper way and to have no record of serious infringements of animal welfare legislation in the preceding 3 years.
Complete an Animal Transport Certificate for each journey.

For long journeys (over 8 hours) transporters must also:

Be in possession of a long journey transporter authorisation.
If the vehicle is used for transporting farmed animals and horses, get it inspected and approved.
Ensure contingency plans in case of emergencies are in place.
Ensure the Journey Log has been completed (for journeys of unregistered horses and livestock).

Application forms and further details of the requirements for authorisation and certification are available from the DAERAwebsite from your local DVO