S.I. No. 261/1994 - European Communities (Importation of Dogs and Cats) Regulations, 1994.


S.I. No. 261 of 1994.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS) REGULATIONS, 1994.

I, JOE WALSH, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 3 of the European Communities Act, 1972 (No. 27 of 1972) and for the purpose of giving effect to Article 10.3 of Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 19921, hereby make the following Regulations:—

1 O.J. No. L268 of 14.9.1992, p. 54.

1 Citation and Commencement

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Importation of Dogs and Cats) Regulations, 1994.

(2) These Regulations shall come into operation on the 2nd day of August 1994.

2 Definitions

2. (1) In these Regulations—

"authorised officer" means—

(i) a person who stands for the time being appointed under Regulation 9 or

(ii) an inspector within the meaning of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966 (No. 6 of 1966);

"the Commission Decisions" means Commission Decision 94/273/EC of 18 April 19942, Commission Decision 94/274/EC of 18 April 19943 and Commission Decision 94/275/EC of 18 April 19944;

2 O.J. No. L117 of 7.5.1994, p. 37.

3 O.J. No. L117 of 7.5.1994, p. 40.

4 O.J. No. L117 of 7.5.1994, p. 41.

"the competent authority" means the central authority of a Member State competent to carry out veterinary checks or any authority to which it has delegated that competence;

"the Council Directive" means Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992;

"District Veterinary Office" means a District Veterinary Office of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry;

"Member State" means a country mentioned in Regulation 4;

"The Minister" means the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry;

"official veterinarian" means the veterinarian appointed by the competent authority of the Member State;

"the Order of 1929" means the Importation of Dogs and Cats Orders, 1929 to 1970;

"premises" includes land, with or without buildings.

(2) A word or expression that is used in these Regulations and in the Council Directive or in the Commission Decisions has, unless the contrary intention appears, the meaning in these Regulations that it has in the Council Directive or in the Commission Decisions.

(3) In these Regulations—

( a ) a reference to a Regulation is to a Regulation of these Regulations, unless it appears that reference to some other enactment is intended,

( b ) a reference to a paragraph or subparagraph is to the paragraph or subparagraph in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended,

( c ) a reference to a Schedule is to a Schedule of these Regulations,

( d ) other than in Regulation 3, a reference to a dog or cat is to a dog or cat imported or being imported into the State under these Regulations.

3 Non-application of the Order of 1929

3. (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this Regulation, the Order of 1929 shall not apply to a dog or cat complying with all the conditions of Regulation 4.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this Regulation the Order of 1929 shall continue to apply to pet dogs and pet cats as well as to dogs and cats not complying with all the conditions of Regulation 4.

4 Conditions of importation

4. A dog or cat must—

(1) come from a holding in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal or Spain which is registered by the competent authority of the Member State of dispatch,

(2) show no sign of contagious disease on the day on which it was dispatched from the holding referred to in subparagraph (1),

(3) be identified in accordance with the Commission Decisions by an electronic system which shall consist of an implantable transponder and be of a type used in the Member State of dispatch,

(4) have been born on the registered holding from which it is coming and have been maintained in captivity there since birth with no contact with wild animals susceptible to rabies,

(5) have been vaccinated against rabies after the age of three months and at least 6 months before dispatch by injection of an inactivated vaccine of at last 1 international antigenic unit (World Health Organisation standard), measured in accordance with the activity test by the method described by the European Pharmacopoeia and recognised by the Commission Decisions, with annual boosters or at intervals authorised by the Member State of dispatch for that vaccine.

(6) have undergone, following a rabies vaccination, a serological test showing a protective antibody titre of at least 0.5 international units, which serological test should be carried out in accordance with World Health Organisations specifications and if this test is carried out after the first vaccination it must be carried out between the first and third month after the vaccination,

(7) be accompanied by an individual vaccination record allowing the animal and its origin to be clearly identified and showing the dates of vaccination, the name of the vaccine used and its batch number, which record must be certified by an official veterinarian or by the veterinarian responsible for the holding referred to in sub-paragraph (1) and empowered for this purpose by the competent authority,

(8) be accompanied by a health certificate conforming to the model contained in the Commission Decisions and completed by an official veterinarian or by the veterinarian responsible for the holding referred to in sub-paragraph (1) who has been empowered by the competent authority to complete such certificate,

(9) in the case of a dog, have been vaccinated against canine distemper,

(10) be transported in a means of transport recognised for this purpose by the competent authority of the Member State of dispatch,

(11) be the subject of an advance notice of importation given by the person intending to import it to the District Veterinary Office competent for the holding of destination; such notice shall be given in writing in the form set out in the First Schedule and shall be delivered to that Office not less than two working days prior to the intended arrival of the dog or cat in the State.

5 Powers of authorised officers

5. (1) An authorised officer may, for the purpose of these Regulations and the Council Directive—

( a ) enter any premises or place and any vehicle, wagon, aircraft or other means of transport where he reasonably suspects that there is a dog or cat that has been the subject of an advance notice referred to in Regulation 4,

( b ) there examine and inspect the dog or cat,

( c ) take or cause to be taken, without payment of compensation, any sample or samples of blood and have such samples or samples submitted to any test, examination or procedure as he or another authorised officer considers appropriate.

( d ) require the production of, take up and retain, where required for the purposes of his functions, the original health certificate and vaccination record referred to in Regulation 4,

( e ) examine and take copies of, or of extracts from, the health certificate and vaccination record referred to in Regulation 4.

(2) Samples taken pursuant to this Regulation shall become the property of the Minister.

(3) The importer of the dog or cat and the owner or person in charge of the premises referred to in paragraph (1) or any person found thereon or who is in the owner's employment shall render such reasonable assistance to the authorised officer as may be required for the purposes of this Regulation.

6 Detention of dog or cat at destination

6. The importer of a dog or cat shall detain the dog or cat at the holding of destination indicated on the health certificate referred to in Regulation 4 for at least ten days after importation.

7 Obligations of Importers

7. The importer of a dog or cat shall, if so requested by an authorised officer—

( a ) produce to that officer the health certificate and vaccination record referred to in Regulation 4,

( b ) give such information as he possesses as to the origin of the dog or cat, details of transport from its holding of origin to holding of destination and of the rabies susceptible animals with which it has come into contact and any other matters relating to the dog or cat as the authorised officer considers necessary,

( c ) demonstrate to the satisfaction of that officer that the dog or cat is identified in accordance with Regulation 4 and

( d ) produce to that officer a reader capable of reading the electronic identification used on the dog or cat.

8 Action in cases of non-compliance

8. (1) Where a dog or cat is found not to comply with one or more of the conditions indicated in Regulation 4, or is suspected by an authorised officer of not so complying, or where the importer of a dog or cat does not comply with a request of an authorised officer made under Regulation 7 an authorised officer may—

( a ) serve a notice (in the Form A set forth in the Second Schedule or in a form to the like effect) on the person in charge of the premises where that dog or cat (hereafter in this Regulation referred to as "the imported animal") is held prohibiting the movement, except under permit issued by an authorised officer, of rabies susceptible animals onto or off said premises;

( b ) seize and detain the imported animal or any other rabies susceptible animal either on the premises or with which the imported animal may have come into contact;

( c ) by notice (in the Form B set forth in the Second Schedule or in a form to the like effect) served on the importer or owner or person in charge of the imported animal direct that the imported animal be moved to the place of detention referred to in Article 2 of the Order of 1929 and thereafter the imported animal shall be subject to the provisions of Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of said Order;

( d ) by notice (in the Form C set forth in the Second Schedule or in a form to the like effect) served on the importer or owner or the person in charge of the imported animal direct that within a time specified in such notice the imported animal be either exported from the State to a specified destination or be destroyed.

(2) Such provisions may be inserted in any notice served in pursuance of this Regulation as the authorised officer may think necessary or desirable for the purposes of these Regulations. An authorised officer may take such steps as he considers necessary to ensure and check that the requirements of a notice are complied with.

(3) If the person on whom a notice has been served under paragraph 1 fails to comply with a requirement of the notice an authorised officer may cause the imported animal to be seized or destroyed or otherwise disposed of without further notice.

(4) All expenses arising from compliance with a notice given under paragraph 1 including the costs of transport and detention shall be borne by the importer or owner of the dog or cat.

(5) A notice in the Form A served under paragraph (1) shall remain in force until it is withdrawn by a further notice in writing (in the Form D set forth in the Second Schedule or in a form to the like effect) signed by an authorised officer.

9 Appointment of Authorised Officers

9. (1) The Minister may appoint such and so many persons as he thinks fit to be authorised officers for the purposes of these Regulations.

(2) An authorised officer shall be furnished with a warrant of his appointment by the Minister as an authorised officer and when exercising any power conferred on him by these Regulations shall, if requested by any person affected, produce the warrant to that person.

10 Offences

10. (1) A person who contravenes—

( a ) a provision of these Regulations,

( b ) a condition attached to a notice issued for the purposes of these Regulations,

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under these Regulations shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both.

(3) Where an offence under these Regulations has been committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been so committed with the consent or connivance of or be attributable to any neglect on the part of a person, being a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate or a person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, that person, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against as if he were guilty of the first-mentioned offence.

Prosecution of Offences

An offence under these Regulations may be prosecuted by the Minister.

FIRST SCHEDULE

ADVANCE NOTICE OF IMPORTATION OF A DOG OR CAT UNDER REGULATION 4 OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES [IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS] REGULATIONS, 1994

I hereby give notice of the importation of the dogs(s) or cat(s) described below in accordance with the above mentioned Regulations.

1. Name of importer ............................................................ ............................................................ .................

Address ............................................................ ............................................................ ...............................

..........................................Telephone............................................... Fax.....................................................

2. Name and address of premises of destination where the animal(s) will be held following importation (if different from 1 above)

............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................

3. Quantity

dogs

cats

4. Description of animals

Breed............................................................ ....

Colour............................................................ .............

Age............................................................ .......

Sex............................................................ ...................

5. Country of origin ............................................................ ............................................................ .................

6. Name and address of registered holding of origin............................................................ ......................

............................................................ ............................................................ ................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ................................................

7. Name and address of consignor (if different from 6 above) ............................................................ .....

............................................................ ............................................................ .................................................

8. Intended date of importation............................................................ ..........................................................

9. Port/airport/land crossing point of importation............................................................ ...........................

10. Means of transport (complete as appropriate):

( a ) Air: Flight No. and Airway Bill No............................................................ ......................................

( b ) Sea: Name of ship ............................................................ ............................................................ ......

( c ) Land: Vehicle No. ............................................................ ............................................................ .......

Signed:............................................................ ..........Date:............................................................ ..........................

Note: This notice must be received at least two working days prior to the date of importation in the District Veterinary Office of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry competent for the premises of destination indicated at 2 above. A separate notice must be given for each animal or group of animals covered by a single health certificate.

SECOND SCHEDULE

FORM A

European Communities (Importation of Dogs and Cats) Regulations, 1994

Notice prohibiting movement of rabies susceptible animals

To............................................................ ............................................................ ...................................................

of............................................................ ............................................................ ....................................................

I, the undersigned, being an authorised officer, hereby give you notice, as the owner or person in charge of the undermentioned premises, that in accordance with the provisions of the above Regulations movement of all rabies susceptible animals onto or out of the undermentioned premises is prohibited.

In consequences of this notice it shall not be lawful for any person, until this notice is withdrawn:

( a ) to move any rabies susceptible animal from the said premises or

( b ) to move any other animal to the said place, or

( c ) to permit any animal to which the notice applies to stray out of the said place or to come in contact with any other animal.

Any person committing or aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of any breach of the provisions of this notice is liable to the penalties imposed by the above mentioned Regulations.

This notice remains in force until it is withdrawn by a subsequent notice in writing served by an authorised officer on the owner or person in charge of the undermentioned premises.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Description and location of premises:

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

________________________________________________________________________________________

Signed:............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................

Name in block letters: ............................................................ ............................................................ ...................

Official Address:............................................................ ............................................................ ...........................

Date:............................................................ ............................................................ ..............................................

FORM B

European Communities (Importation of Dogs and Cats) Regulations, 1994

Notice directing that one or more imported dogs and/or cats be moved to a place of detention

To............................................................ ............................................................ ..................................................

of............................................................ ............................................................ ....................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ .......................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ .......................................................

I, the undersigned, being an authorised officer, hereby direct you to move the animals(s) described below to the following place of detention

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

not later than (date)............................................................ ............................................................ ..............................................

for the purpose of detention and isolation and thereafter the animals(s) will be subject to the provision of Articles 2, 3. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the Importation of Dogs and Cats Order of 1929.

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

Description of animals(s):............................................................ ............................................................ ...........

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

Signed:......................................................Date:............................................................ ........................................

Name in block letters ............................................................ ............................................................ ...................

Official address............................................................ ............................................................ .............................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

Note: All expenses arising from compliance with this notice shall be borne by the importer or owner of the animals(s) described above.

FORM C

European Communities (Importation of Dogs and Cats) Regulations, 1994

Notice directing that one or more imported dogs and/or cats be exported from the State or destroyed

To............................................................ ............................................................ ...................................................

of............................................................ ............................................................ .....................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................

I, the undersigned, being an authorised officer, direct you to

(i) export the animals(s) described below out of the State to the following destination

............................................................ ............................................................ .....................................

............................................................ ............................................................ .....................................

or

(ii) have the said animals destroyed,

in either case, before (date)............................................................ ............................................................ ............

Description of animal(s)

............................................................ ............................................................ .......................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ .......................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ .......................................................

Signed:............................................................ ................Date:............................................................ .................

Name in block letters: ............................................................ ............................................................ .................

Official Address:............................................................ ............................................................ ..........................

............................................................ ............................................................ ......................................................

Note: All expenses arising from compliance with this notice shall be borne by the importer or owner of the animals described above.

FORM D

European Communities (Importation of Dogs and Cats) Regulations, 1994

Withdrawal of Notice prohibiting movement of rabies susceptible animals.

To............................................................ ............................................................ ...................................................

of............................................................ ............................................................ ....................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ .......................................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ......................................................

I, the undersigned, being an authorised officer, hereby withdraw as from

(date)

................................ the Notice (Form A), signed by ................................................. and served on you on the (date).........................................

Signed............................................................ .............Date............................................................ .........................

Name in block letters ............................................................ ............................................................ .....................

Official address............................................................ ............................................................ ...............................

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 29th day of July, 1994.

JOE WALSH,

Minister for Agriculture, Food

and Forestry.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations implement Article 10.3 of Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 and specify the conditions under which dogs and cats (excluding pets) may be brought into Ireland from European Union countries other than the United Kingdom.