gov - Zoo Animals – Export and intra-EU Moves

This page contains information on the health certificate requirements for animal movements into and out of Ireland.

For information on welfare or transporter requirements (e.g. driver certification and vehicle authorisation) please see the transport or contact transport@agriculture.gov.ie .

It is important to make sure all CITES certificates (for endangered animals) are in place before any move. Please see Introduction to CITES, National Parks & Wildlife Service (npws.ie)

Health certificates

Generally speaking, if there is a named health cert (i.e. NOT a non-harmonised certificate) available on TRACES NT for the species of animal in question, you use that certificate. E.g. you want to send a a dog, cat or ferret – you use the dog, cat of ferret health certificate, or if you want to send an ungulate you use the ungulate certificate.

In the example in the picture below, if you want to send a carnivore other than a dog, cat, or ferret, you would use the “Other carnivore” certificate.

If the only health certificate available on TRACES for your chosen species is a non-harmonised certificate without any health statements on it then you will need an owner self declaration certificate for the movement. E.g., you want to send a reptile between zoo’s but not between confined establishments, then the only option available on TRACES is a non-harmonised certificate.

In this case you should use an owner self declaration, produced and signed at the point of origin of the animals. This self declaration should contain the following:

that the animals are healthy and disease free
Details of their place of origin, their place of destination and, when relevant, any places of assembly or rest;
Details of the means of transport and the transporter;
description of the kept terrestrial animals, their species, category and quantity;
identification and registration of the animals, clearly stated information on the container of the species and number of animals

Please contact the local RVO in Ireland to arrange getting a health certificate if you are exporting from Ireland, or the local government veterinary office in the other EU country if incoming from another EU country.

The zoo that is receiving the animals may make other requests, e.g. parasite testing or treatment in advance of the move.

Confined Establishments

If your establishment is an approved confined establishment, formerly known as Balai Approved Establishment, please see the certificate available on TRACES NT specifically for animals moving between confined establishments, available under various species. However, there may be additional requests in relation to disease testing or vaccination on top of this certificate so please also contact livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie

Animals should only be moved into a confined establishment from another confined establishment. If you wish to move animals from a non-confined establishment into your confined establishment please contact livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie as there will be strict testing/quarantine procedures required before this can be permitted.