Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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439. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current regulations in place for the protection of animals transported overseas for non-economic reasons that are subsequently used for food, for example, greyhounds sent to China. [14857/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 applies to the non-commercial movement of pet animals between EU Member States.

Directive 92/65/EEC applies to animal health requirements for trade in and imports to the EU of 'other' live animals, which includes some ruminants, Camelids (e.g. llamas, alpacas), cats and dogs (for commercial imports only), bees, apes, rabbits and hares, exotic birds, ferrets, mink, foxes, zoo animals and other exotic species. 

With regard to the export of greyhounds to China, all exporters of dogs are required to provide animal health and welfare certification in respect of compliance with identification requirements, fitness for the intended journey, health status and rabies vaccination requirements. Once these animal certification requirements are met, dogs, including greyhounds, may be exported internationally.

The transport of animals by air is also governed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals regulations, which set out the requirements for transporting different animal species by air, including among other things, the container specifications required for their transport.

Bord na gCon, the organisation which is responsible for the governance, regulation and development of the greyhound industry in Ireland, advises all owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the expected levels of greyhound care and management as defined in the IGB's Code of Practice for the welfare of greyhounds. I strongly endorse this view.