This new information as from the 1st January 2012 applies to all puppies, dogs, cats and ferrets entering the UK from the Irish Republic. It does not only apply to puppies and dogs (someones companion, pet) but commercially traded puppies and dogs entering the UK too.  Although there are no specified border controls the local AHVLA at the destination of any puppies or dogs entering the UK has to be notified.

I hope this will make a difference to the entry of puppies from puppy farms in the Irish republic destined to be sold in pet shops in the UK as they will need to be 15 weeks of age with vacinations completed to include the 21 days waiting time. Not quite such an attractive option for pet shops receiving 15 week old puppies.

I know there is concern relating to rescues who bring dogs and puppies into the UK I understand from reading below this applies to all, please correct me if I am wrong.

Please read below: 

Non-commercial movement of cats, dogs and ferrets into the UK from the Republic of Ireland
Under the EU pet movement system, all pet dogs, cats and ferrets moving between EU Member States must meet the same animal health rules.

All pet dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from the Republic of Ireland to the UK must:·         be identified by a microchip prior to rabies vaccination
·         be vaccinated against rabies in accordance with the recommendation on the vaccine manufacturer's data sheet·         the waiting period before entry to the UK is 21 days after a valid vaccination
·         be accompanied by a passport containing a rabies vaccination record modelled on Annex 1 of Commission Decision 2003/803/EC·         as both the Republic of Ireland and the UK have had no indigenous rabies for many decades, compliance checks on pets travelling between the two countries will not be applied
Please be advised under Regulation 998/2003 the number of pet dogs, cats and ferrets permitted to travel to the UK from the Republic of Ireland at any one time is limited to five per person.
Commercial movement of cats, dogs and ferrets into the UK from the Republic of Ireland

The following rules apply to the commercial movement of cats, dogs and ferrets into the UK from the Republic of Ireland.

Commercially traded cats, dogs and ferrets must:
·         be from a holding registered with the EU Member State of origin under Council Directive 92/65/EEC
·         be identified by a microchip prior to rabies vaccination
·         be vaccinated against rabies in accordance with the recommendation on the vaccine manufacturer's data sheet·         the waiting period before entry to the UK is 21 days after a valid vaccination
·         be accompanied by a passport containing a rabies vaccination record modelled on Annex 1 of Commission Decision 2003/803/EC
·         be accompanied by a health certificate (as laid down in Part 1 of Annex E to Directive 92/65/EEC) that confirms 24 hours before dispatch a clinical examination was carried out by a vet authorised by the competent authority showing that the animal is fit and healthy to travel

Additionally:
·         the Member State of origin will notify the movement to the competent authorities of destination through the Community Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES)
·         the importer must notify the Regional AHVLA Office 24 hours prior to import, in writing
·         the dogs/cats/ferrets must stay a further 48 hours at the place of destination on the health certificate
·         they will not be checked at the point of entry as they are not pets, but may be checked at the place of destination by the Regional AHVLA Office
·         the transporter of the dogs/cats/ferrets must be authorised to transport animals commercially
·         the importer must keep the original health certificate for at least three years·         there is no requirement to keep records of onward movements, but we recommend these are kept
Legislation

The following legislation applies:

EU:
Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 - lays down the rabies import conditions which pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) must comply with when being moved between EU Member StatesCouncil Directive 92/65/EEC - lays down specific conditions for trade in Dogs and Cats (if commercially traded)
Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 - lays down the provisions on the protection of
animals during transport
UK:
Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 - lays down requirements for importation of rabies-susceptible animals into Great BritainThe Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals Order 2011 - implements and enforces the EU import conditions in relation to the movement of pets into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 - provide Enforcement Authorities with the means of enforcing EU legislation which provides for intra Union trade in animals
The requirements of the Rabies Order, the Pets Order and the TARP Regulations are enforced by local authorities (this relates to the location of the animals).

Please let me know if you require any further information.

Kind regards

David Guilder
Administrative Officer
Specialist Service Centre for Imports

Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA)Government Buildings
Beeches Road
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 2RU

From what I read, Pat, does this mean that the so-called "charidees" which "rescue" dogs from Ireland will have their activies curtailed?

No one upholds this law or asks for Pet Passports etc when you import from Ireland.  Both countries are rabies free.  Similar legislation has been in place previously, but was never implemented.

Source:  We imported a pup at 7wks from Ireland to UK.

>I hope this will make a difference to the entry of puppies from puppy farms in the Irish republic destined to be sold in pet shops in the UK as they will need to be 15 weeks of age with vacinations completed to include the 21 days waiting time. Not quite such an attractive option for pet shops receiving 15 week old puppies.

Not so, I'm afraid. The Defra site makes it clear that there will effectively be no change: "As both the Republic of Ireland and the UK have had no indigenous rabies for many decades, compliance checks on pets travelling between the two countries will not be applied. Pet owners travelling with their pets should therefore not experience any change on the ground from the 1 January."

If that is the case then why would the AHVLA state the following:-

Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 - lays down requirements for importation of rabies-susceptible animals into Great BritainThe Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals Order 2011 - implements and enforces the EU import conditions in relation to the movement of pets into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 - provide Enforcement Authorities with the means of enforcing EU legislation which provides for intra Union trade in animals
The requirements of the Rabies Order, the Pets Order and the TARP Regulations are enforced by local authorities (this relates to the location of the animals).

I agree there are no border control points of entry (due to no cases of rabies) as you rightly say but that does not mean that the EU and UK law can be ignored. If evidence of none complience is passed to the nearest location of the AHVLA where the animals are destined to arrive from the Repubic of Ireland they will ask to see if all paperwork is in order.
All dogs entering for shows or competition the passport is not required but as I understand it is requirement for all others.   

> I agree there are no border control points of entry (due to no cases of rabies) as you rightly say but that does not mean that the EU and UK law can be ignored. If evidence of none complience is passed to the nearest location of the AHVLA where the animals are destined to arrive from the Repubic of Ireland they will ask to see if all paperwork is in order.

As Jeangenie already said, enforcement is not going to happen. Although you say that dogs entered for shows are exempt, nobody seems to be checking on that - and I'm fairly sure it hasn't stemmed the flow of puppy-farmed dogs from Irish breeders into the UK as yet.

Forget the rabies threat - almost non-existent between Eire and UK - if they implemented these checks to clamp down on stop puppy farmed dogs flooding the UK, I'd be a LOT happier.

Who would have enough evidence to report to the AHVLA in any case? And would it be enough to get a conviction?

It is known that pet shop licence holders do purchase puppies from the Irish Republic and it will be up to us that campaign to report any that are not complying. It maybe as suggested that the AHVLA will not act although they have given the assurance they will act on information of none complience.  Time will tell.
The councils that licence pet shops in their area will also know as the pet shop licence holder must keep records of who they purchase puppies from. Councils should not be guilty of protecting the pet shop licence holder by with holding information from the AHVLA otherwise it will make the Councils equally as guilty as those that are not complient.   

It may exist in law, but it isn't being implemented. 

TBH, I'm glad of that - there are plenty things we need to be focussing our attention on, besides creating more paperwork and checks when no rabies exists in either country.

There will always be puppy farmed dogs, no matter where they come from.  Wales is a large producer as well; preventing imports from Ireland would do nothing, only increase exports from Wales.  Basic supply and demand.

I agee at present it is new, many are unaware but the legislation exists and therefore should be implemented not just against rabies but to hinder and disrupt the pet trade of sickly puppies from the Irish Republic destined to be sold by pet shops and dealers and for this reason alone it should be fucused upon regardless of the paperwork and inconvenience it causes to others. 

I am well aware that to hinder in one area will encourage more of the same from another as you so rightly say from Wales. Therefore it is up to us the public to campaign against puppies being sold from third parties such as pet shops and dealers selling from home by enlightening Defra and MPs time and time again that it is detrimental to animal welfare to allow third party selling of puppies to continue.

Week by week emails, complaints arrive in my inbox from disgruntled and extremely upset people who have purchased a puppy from such an outlet, why because it is easy to do so in many instances. Take away the route to the easy purchase of a puppy no questions asked would make such difference. I am saddened by peoples accounts of purchasing a puppy that is sick or died soon after purchase or had to be put to sleep due to aggression or severe behaviour problems.  Many of these purchasers are not irresponsible people, unenlightened maybe, the dealers selling from home are extremely clever in disguising the fact they are buying in puppies to resell.  This has to stop but it will only stop if pressure is placed in the right areas, in any area that will reduce the trade of puppies in the UK. If this latest legislation is something that can be used to that effect then from my perspective it has to be good news.   

> If this latest legislation is something that can be used to that effect then from my perspective it has to be good news.

Quite agree.