TRACES

The Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) is the European Commission's online platform for sanitary and phytosanitary certification required for the importation of animals, animal products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants into the European Union, and the intra-EU trade and EU exports of animals and certain animal products.

In Ireland, TRACES is also used for the generation of certain Export Health Certificates to certain third countries (non-EU).

TRACES facilitates the exchange of data, information and documents between all involved trading parties and control authorities and therefore simplifies and speeds up the administrative procedures.

The possibility to trace back and forth all the movements of animals, animal products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants contributes to the reduction of the impact of disease outbreaks and allows for a quick response to counter certain serious risks along the agri-food chain.

TRACES provides electronic certification which will allows for certificates to be exchanged electronically, between the local operators and the certifying officer for an individual consignment, and internationally from one country’s authorities to another.

For more information on TRACES, visit the website of the European Commission: TRACES (europa.eu)

TRACES is required for:

• the importation of animals, animal products, food and some feed of non-animal origin and plants into the European Union

• internal EU trade and EU exports of animals and certain animal products

• export health certification to Great Britain for meat & meat products, dairy & dairy products, table eggs, animal by-products & honey

For Imports:

TRACES allows for the mandatory completion of Common Health Entry Documents (CHED). The purpose of the CHED is to:

1. Allow the operator responsible for the consignment to pre-notify the competent authorities of the border control post (BCP) of the arrival of the consignment (Part I).

2. For the competent authorities to record the outcome of the official controls performed and any decisions taken on that basis (Part II).

3. For the competent authorities to include information on follow up measures taken on the consignment after the decision is made (Part III).

The person responsible for the consignment must be registered and have access to TRACES. Under TRACES the various documents that should be completed are as follows:

• Common Health Entry Documents-A (CHED-A) for consignments of live animals

• Common Health Entry Documents-P (CHED-P) for consignments of products of animal origin, germinal products and animal by-products

• Common Health Entry Documents-PP (CHED-PP) for consignments of plants, plant products and other objects for which a phytosanitary certificate is required

• Common Health Entry Document-D (CHED-D) for consignments of food and feed of non-animal origin subject to increased temporary controls and emergency measures

In order to facilitate the efficiency of import controls upon arrival, these documents should be completed in TRACES and also submitted to the Department 24 hours in advance of their arrival in Ireland.

For Internal EU trade:

TRACES allows for the mandatory completion of animal health certificates for intra Union movements of certain categories of animals and goods

An INTRA certificate consists of the following parts:

• Part 1 - Description of consignment: Filled-in by the economic operator and submitted to the competent authorities for endorsement.

• Part 2 -Official controls carried out for certification: Filled-in by the competent authority at the place of departure to certify the applicable animal health requirements;

• Part 3 - Follow-up and further official controls: Filled-in by the competent authority which performs a control on the dispatched consignment, where a control is performed.

For export Certification to GB:

TRACES allows for the completion of health certificates necessary to export live animal and certain animal products to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), the Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

Since 1 January 2022, the UK’s plant health authorities are accepting PDF versions of phytosanitary e-certificates issued in TRACES.

Since 1 November 2022, the UK’s veterinary authorities are accepting PDF versions of health e-certificates issued in TRACES.

An Export Health Certificate consists of the following parts:

• Part 1 - Description of consignment: Filled-in by the economic operator and submitted to the competent authorities for endorsement;

• Part 2 – Official controls carried out for certification: Filled-in by the competent authority at the place of departure to certify the applicable animal health requirements;

TRACES User Guide - Generating Export Health Certificates

• How to create and Export Health Certificate

Create a GB Operator within an Export Certificate POAO

Please see the following TRACES User Guides for how to register to access the platform:

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Please note that Multi-Factor Authentication is now compulsory for all Traces users.

From April 1st 2025, SMS will not be accepted as a second factor for authenticating with EU Login.

To ensure uninterrupted access to TRACES, we strongly encourage you to prepare now by transitioning to alternative authentication methods, such as EU Login mobile application available in both the Apple and Google app stores or security key.

If you already have a Traces account and have not added a mobile phone/device for MFA please see MFA register your mobile phone on Traces V3

Users experiencing difficulty with logging in due to issues with the registration of the mobile phone, please see MFA error registering your mobile phone on Traces.

Two recorded generic training sessions for the TRACES system have been uploaded on the Department’s YouTube channel.

1. How to create an Export Health Certificate

2. How to create an EU login and Operator Role Request

It is important that ABP and Feed Operators as well as Food Business Operators ensure they are registered on TRACES, with a connected user account to their Operator Profile, if they plan to create an Export Health Certificate, including for exports to Great Britain, or other health certificate document on TRACES NT.

In the event of any issues that may be experienced on TRACES NT, it is recommended that you contact the TRACES Unit helpdesk directly traces@agriculture.gov.ie

For any TRACES related queries, or request validation of your TRACES account, please contact Traces@agriculture.gov.ie

When you register as an Importer or Exporter with the Department, TRACES registration will be initiated for you.

See the Brexit registration page for details or email BrexitRegistration@agriculture.gov.ie for assistance.

When TRACES is unavailable for a period and can not to be used, please see here for blank versions of the certificates available on TRACES.

Questions And Answers

Export Certification

General Import Requirements

Trading in Animals and Animal Products

Live Animal Movements

Exporting to the UK from Ireland

•Exporting meat, meat products and animal by-products

•Exporting regulated plants and plant products

•Item was unpublished or removed

•Exporting dairy products

•Exporting fish and fish products

•Exporting honey products

•Exporting table eggs

•Exporting composite products

DAFM’S Export Information Portal (Market Access)

DAFM Export Certification Contact Points

Brexit and the Agri-Food Sector

Trader Notices

Commercial Dog, Cat or Ferret Movements

Board Bia – Why Export and are you ready?

Agri-Food and the Economy

Sustainable Food Systems Ireland