The Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order further amends the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order (Northern Ireland) 1977 (“the principal Order”) as set out below.

The exemptions from the requirement for a licence to import certain animals into Northern Ireland are extended to include –

(a) an animal from the Republic of Ireland which was imported into that territory from another member State or Norway in accordance with Council Directive 92/65/EEC (laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Council Directive 90/425/EEC);

(b) an animal imported from a member State (other than the Republic of Ireland) in accordance with Council Directive 92/65/EEC;

(c) a dog or cat from Great Britain, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man which was imported into one of these countries from Norway in accordance with Council Directive 92/65/EEC;

(d) a ferret from Great Britain, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man or which was imported into one of those countries from a member State (other than the Republic of Ireland) or Norway in accordance with Council Directive 92/65/EEC or which was isolated in quarantine for at least six months before being landed in Northern Ireland.

The principal Order is further amended by permitting the free movement between England and Northern Ireland of any animal brought into England in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 998/2003 and the Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals (England) Regulations 2004.

The quarantine requirements in Article 5(2) of the principal order are disapplied to rodents and lagomorphs which are brought into Northern Ireland to a research premises or zoo.