Non Harmonised Imports - Reptiles and Amphibians

No official certificates are laid down in EU legislation for the import of non-harmonised animals. Therefore national rules apply to the import of reptiles and amphibians into Ireland from third countries.

1. Reptiles and amphibians must comply with the general import conditions for live animals on gov.ie - Live Animal Imports.

2. Reptiles and amphibians have been kept in the holding from which they were exported either since birth or during at least 30 days prior to the date of export.

3. They have been kept isolated from other animals for a period of 30 days prior to export, have been dispatched directly from the holding of origin without passing through any assembly centre/market and be free of ectoparasites.

4. The reptiles and amphibians were examined by a veterinarian within 48 hours of loading on the holding and found to be free of clinical signs of infectious diseases including those referred to in Annex 1 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 and emerging diseases and are not subject to any official restrictions.

5. Reptiles and amphibians must comply with the import requirements specified in the health certificate.

Consignments of reptiles and amphibians imported from third countries must be accompanied by the health certificate ‘Health Certificate for the Entry of Reptiles and Amphibians into the EU destined for Ireland’.

1. Consignments of live animals entering the EU must be inspected at an EU-approved Border control Post (BCP) where Member States' official veterinarians ensure they fulfil all the requirements provided for in the EU legislation.

2. The person responsible for the load being imported (the importer or a customs agent acting on their behalf) must give the BCP at the intended point of entry advance notification of the arrival of the consignment.

There is a required minimum pre-notification notice period of at least 24 hours’ notice in advance of the consignment’s arrival.

Failure to submit correct documentation within this timeline may result in significant delays in the consignment being processed through the Border Control Post.

Pre-notification is given by the submission of Part 1 of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED-P), as is laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 2019/1715, through the online TRACES system.

3. Copies of other supporting documentation associated with the consignment should be submitted at this time as well - such as the Health Certificate, Invoice, Packing list and so on.

4. Necessary documents and logistical information must be submitted 24 hours in advance via the DAFM Import Portal.

1. All live animals from third countries require veterinary checks at their point of entry into the European Union, as listed in the Annex to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632.

2. EU non harmonised import controls are carried out at an approved Border Control Post (BCP) that is designated to deal with that species of animal. A consignment of reptiles or amphibians may only enter Ireland through an approved Border Control Post (BCP) designated ‘O’ for other animals.

Dublin Airport, Dublin Port and Rosslare port BCPs are all approved for ‘O’ animals.

3. Providing all the documentation has been submitted correctly and within the correct timeframes, a large proportion of the documentary check can be commenced in advance of the consignment’s arrival. This includes examination of the veterinary certificate and other documents accompanying a consignment.

The original hard copy of the health certificate must travel with the consignment and will be checked and held at the BCP at the point of entry into the EU.

4. Provided all is in order with the documentary check, the consignment of live animals will then be subject to an identity check and physical check with/without sampling as appropriate at the BCP.

5. Upon satisfactory completion of the required checks, the decision is entered in Part 2 of the CHED which must accompany the consignment to the first place of destination referred to in the CHED.

6. If the consignment does not meet the import requirements, the consignment may be rejected entry and re-exported or in exceptional circumstances, humanely destroyed if necessary.