John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that will arise for businesses if the border inspection posts at Dublin and Shannon Airports are no longer approved for category O animals such as birds, fish, reptiles and so on; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that from August 2009 this category will have to be checked via an approved border inspection post in another member state; the reason for these changes; if he will examine alternatives to ensure businesses are not lost in the current economic climate through changes in regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26259/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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EU legislation governing trade into the EU stipulates that all animals and animal products entering the EU from a country outside the EU (a Third Country) must undergo veterinary and documentary checks at the point of entry before release into transit to final destination or free circulation within the Community. These rules are aimed at the overall protection of animal and public health within the EU territory and the prevention of the introduction of diseases or pests into the Community.

During the course of an audit carried out by the EU Food and Veterinary Office in April 2008, various shortcomings were identified in relation to the facilities provided for "Category O — live animals" at both Border Inspection Posts (BIP's) in Ireland located at Dublin and Shannon Airports approved for the inspection of this category.

My Department immediately requested an assessment to be carried out by the OPW with regard to the remedial action required at these locations to up-specify the facilities and an initial estimate of expenditure was provided.

The two private companies with responsibility for the provision of the BIP facilities at both airports have confirmed to my Department that in view of the current economic climate they will not be making the financial investment required to upgrade these facilities in order to satisfy the legal requirements under EU legislation to maintain the ongoing approval of category "O" at the BIP's in Dublin and Shannon airports. Under these circumstances the BIP facility for approval of "Category O — live animals" at both of these locations has to be withdrawn.

Consequently consignments of all live animals that require BIP checks (animals with the exception of pets imported directly into Ireland from a country outside the EU) will be affected in that they can no longer enter directly into Ireland but rather undergo their official EU documentary border control inspection at a BIP location approved for category "O" in another Member State.

My Department has been in contact with all known importers of live animals along with the relevant airport authorities and freight handlers advising them of the impending change to take effect from the 3rd August, 2009 and has placed notices in the national media in the past week. A reasonable period of 6 weeks notice has been given. Similar action has been taken by the agency responsible for the importation of live fish.