Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

PART III additional requirements for dealers in cattle, pigs, sheep and goats

1.  Every dealer in cattle, pigs, sheep or goats engaging in intra-Community trade shall comply with the provisions of this Part.

2.—(1) The dealer shall:

(a) be approved by the Department under this paragraph; and

(b) be registered with, and have a registration number issued, by the Department.

(2) The Department shall only issue an approval under this paragraph if satisfied that the dealer will comply with the provisions of this Part and, in the case of a dealer in sheep or goats, that the dealer has agreed to comply with the requirements for the operation of his premises which an inspector has specified in an operational agreement as being the requirements the inspector believes are necessary to ensure the premises are capable of being operated in accordance with the second indent of Article 3(2) of Council Directive 90/425/EEC.

3.  The dealer shall ensure that he only imports or exports animals that are identified and meet the requirements of Community law for intra-Community trade and, in the case of cattle, come from herds that are officially free of tuberculosis, brucellosis and leucosis, or are slaughter animals meeting the requirements of Article 6(3), or, if slaughter animals under a disease control programme, the requirements of Article 13(1)(a), of Council Directive 64/432/EEC.

4.  The dealer shall keep a record for all cattle, pigs, sheep and goats which he imports or exports, either on the basis of identification numbers or marks on the animals, and preserve the record for at least three years, of—

(a) the name and address of the seller;

(b) the origin of the animals;

(c) the date of purchase;

(d) the categories, number and identification (or registration number of the holding of origin) of cattle, sheep and goats;

(e) the registration number of the holding of origin or the herd of origin of pigs;

(f) the approval or registration number of the assembly centre through which he has acquired sheep or goats (where applicable);

(g) the registration number of the transporter or the licence number of the lorry delivering and collecting animals;

(h) the name and address of the buyer and the destination of the animals; and

(i) copies of route plans and numbers of health certificates.

5.  In the case of a dealer who keeps cattle, pigs, sheep or goats on his premises he shall ensure that—

(a) specific training in the care and welfare of animals is given to the staff in charge of the animals; and

(b) all necessary steps are taken to prevent the spread of disease.

6.—(1) The dealer shall only use premises approved for the purpose by the Department under this paragraph and which, in the case of a dealer in sheep and goats, are specified in an operational agreement.

(2) The Department shall issue an approval number for premises approved under this paragraph.

(3) The Department shall only issue an approval under this paragraph if satisfied that the premises comply with Article 13(2) of Council Directive 64/432/EEC or, in the case of a dealer in sheep and goats, Article 8b(2) of Council Directive 91/68/EEC.