Moving live poultry, birds, animals and products of animal origin (POAO) out of Northern Ireland

Moving live poultry, birds, animals and products of animal origin (POAO) out of Northern Ireland

Following the confirmation of HPAI H5N1 in poultry, the UK is no longer free from avian influenza under the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) rules. See the Defra website for more details.

There are considerable economic implications of epizootic disease outbreaks when they occur. The confirmation of HPAI has the potential to have a significant impact on our poultry industry and on international trade. The consequences for the completion of export health certification can complicate and delay consignments for some time after an initial outbreak.

Permitted exports from NI differ from those permitted from GB for moves to the EU.

Defra have provided clarity to traders on the EU’s rules for exporting poultry products due to the ongoing avian influenza (AI) outbreak in Great Britain. For more information, click here.

Agreed export health certificates between Northern Ireland and importing countries are considered and issued on a case-by-case basis and can be certified by an Official Veterinarian only if the whole consignment meets the requirements set out in the export health certificates in full. A list of certificates were restrictions may apply is available on the red/amber list of certificates available via a link on the DECOL noticeboard. You are advised to check this list before applying for an export health certificate.

As a general rule, where certificates are available, they will be accessed on the DEFRA Form Finder website. If a certificate is not available it has most likely been withdrawn. In you have specific queries regarding export to a particular country please email DAERATradeExports@daera-ni.gov.uk giving as much detail as you can.

The movement of other live animals and related POAO are presently unaffected and can continue to move in line with current requirements. You can apply to export such commodities via DECOL.

Ongoing Trade implications

There are considerable economic implications of epizootic disease outbreaks when they occur. The confirmation of HPAI has the potential to have a significant impact on our poultry industry and on international trade. The consequences for completion of export health certification can complicate and delay consignments for some time after the initial outbreak.

In the event of specific queries, these can be requested on email request to DAERATradeExports@daera-ni.gov.uk.