Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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507. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of trucks that entered ports here in 2020 that were inspected physically for compliance with the animal and plant all-Ireland rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3421/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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EU Regulations require that live animals and plants, plant and animal products coming from non-EU countries are subject to import controls, at the first point of entry to the European Union. These so called sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import controls apply to all non-EU countries, regardless of whether the non-EU country has a free trade deal with the EU or not. These controls did not apply to the live animals, plants, and products made therefrom, from GB, in 2020.

SPS import controls consist of three types; documentary, identity and physical. The frequency of each type of control is laid down in EU Regulations that are directly implementable in the Member States. All vehicles carrying consignments of live animals and animal products must be physically presented at the border control post for control. In the case of plant and plant products, some vehicles may not be required to present, provided correctly completed health certificates, advance notification has been provided in advance, and physical checks are not required.

In 2020, 3,689 containers were checked by staff from my Department at the border control post in Dublin Port (Dublin Port was the only portal BCP in 2020). 2,482 containers were required to physically present at the border control post for controls. The remainder were not required to physically present, as they were consignments of plant and plant products where advance notification had been provided, correctly completed health certificates had been submitted and physical checks were not required.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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508. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of trucks entering Ireland from the UK that have been inspected physically in relation to compliance with the new EU-UK Brexit agreement rules on food, animal and plant safety to date in 2021; the total number of such trucks that entered Ireland; the requirement for same as laid down in the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3422/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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EU Regulations require that live animals and plants, plant and animal products, coming from non-EU countries, are subject to import controls, at the first point of entry to the European Union. These so called sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import controls, are separate from customs controls. SPS controls apply to all non-EU countries, regardless of whether the non-EU country has a free trade deal with the EU or not. On 1st January, these SPS controls came into force for plants, animals, and products made therefrom, coming from GB.

SPS import controls consist of three types; documentary, identity and physical. The frequency of each type of control is laid down in EU Regulations that are directly implementable in the Member States. All vehicles carrying consignments of live animals and animal products must be physically presented at the border control post for control. In the case of plant and plant products, some vehicles may not be required to present, provided correctly completed health certificates and advance notification have been provided in advance, and physical checks are not required.

From 1st January to 8 am on 20 January, approximately 600 trucks coming off ferries from the UK have been checked by my Department at Dublin Port.