Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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1728. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legislation governing the sale, importation and welfare of exotic animals in light of a recent incident (details supplied); his plans to update this legislation; if a record exists of such animal imports; and if so, the location that such records are published. [20159/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department is aware of the incident to which the deputy refers, however it is not appropriate to comment on individual cases. Zebras are classified as equines and therefore must comply with all of the EU equine identification and health certification requirements applicable to other equines such as horses and donkeys.

The requirements for equine identification are set down in EU law through Regulation 2016/429 “The Animal Health Law”. In accordance with these rules, an owner must ensure their equine is kept at a premises issued with an equine premises registration number by my Department. They must also ensure that their equines are correctly identified by applying to the relevant passport issuing organisation (PIO) for an equine passport. The relevant PIO for the purposes of identifying a zebra in private ownership would be one capable of issuing a non-studbook breeding and production passport.

All animals moved within the EU must travel with a veterinary health certificate and comply with conditions outlined in Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2021/403.

There are several species and sub-species of zebra. Depending on the species of wild or exotic animals involved, The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wind Fauna and Flora (CITES) and associated regulations may be applicable to the import and licensing of such animals, which fall under the responsibility of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).