Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Diseases of animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (As amended)

Landing of carcases and animal products Order (Northern Ireland) 1985 (as amended)

General import licence

Licence N o : DARD/GEN/07/23

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in accordance with the terms of the above legislation hereby authorises the importation into Northern Ireland of :–

Fresh Meat and Animal Products from Great Britain

The products covered by the licence are subject to the following conditions:

1.	Any product landed in Northern Ireland under this licence shall be made available for inspection by an inspector of the Department.
2.	The importer or his agent shall afford all assistance necessary to an Inspector to enable him to carry out the inspection.

Additional conditions for products listed in Schedule 1

1.	Each consignment must be accompanied by –
A	a commercial document containing the following information –
i.	the name and address of the consignor and consignee;
ii.	the date of issue of the document and a number enabling it to be identified;
iii.	the description of the product to be transported;
iv.	the total quantity despatched; and
B	an attestation as set in Annex A signed by a responsible company manager; and
C(i)	in the case of meat produced in Great Britain, an official health certificate or where applicable an official audit certificate issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which states that the meat conforms with Commission Decision 2007/554/EC (as amended), concerning certain protection measures against Foot and Mouth Disease in the UK;
or
C(ii)	in the case of meat produced and packaged in a third country (i.e. a non EU country), an official health certificate or where applicable an official audit certificate issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
C(iii)	in the case of meat produced in Northern Ireland and dispatched to Great Britain for storage, an official health certificate or where applicable an official audit certificate issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
C((iv)	in the case of unpasteurised milk and products containing unpasteurised milk an official health certificate or where applicable an official audit certificate issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which states that the milk/dairy product conforms with Commission Decision 2007/554/EC (as amended), concerning certain protection measures against Foot and Mouth Disease in the UK;
2.	Imports of meat (fresh red meat and farmed game) derived from cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and other biungulates must comply with the requirements of the Food Hygiene Regulations (NI) 2006.
3.	Imports for raw material for pet food manufacture must comply with either the Animal By-Products Order (NI) 2003 in the case of low risk animal by product or with the Food Hygiene Regulations (NI) 2006 in the case of meat fit for human consumption.

 Additional conditions for products listed in Schedule 2

1.	The importer must provide an attestation as set out in Annex A signed by a responsible company manager:
or
2.	an official audit certificate issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
or
3.	an official health certificate issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
4.	the consignment is ineligible for export from Northen Ireland to a Member State.

 Additional conditions for products listed in Schedule 3

1.	Each consignment must be accompanied by a commercial document containing the following information –
I.	the name and address of the consignor and consignee;
II.	the date of issue of the document and a number enabling it to be identified;
III.	the description of the product to be transported;
IV.	the total quantity despatched.
2.	Imports of meat products derived from cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and other biungulates must comply with the requirements of the Food Hygiene Regulations (NI) 2006.
3.	The importer must provide an attestation as set out in Annex A signed by a responsible company manager:
or
4.	an official audit certificate issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
or
5.	an official health certificate issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
6.	Imports of hides and skins of FMD susceptible species and certain other products of animal origin (see schedule 3) must, in addition to the commercial document, be accompanied by either a Defra official consignment or audit certificate depending on the treatment the product has underwent.
7.	Imports of Petfood from areas listed in Annex I of Commission Decision 2007/554/EC must be accompanied by an official health certificate or audit certificate issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirming at least one of the following conditions–
(a)	Canned Petfood – Subjected to heat treatment of a minimum F/o value of 3.
(b)	Processed Petfood (other than canned) – subjected to heat treatment of at least 90 degrees throughout its substance.
(c)	Dog Chews – Subjected to a heat treatment sufficient to destroy pathogenic organisms (including salmonella).
8.	The consignment is ineligible for export from Northern Ireland to another Member State unless accompanied by official Defra certification.

Additional conditions for products listed in Schedule 4 (composite products)

Each consignment must be accompanied by a commercial document stating that the product is either shelf stable or has been heat treated.

Additional conditions for tinned food for human consumption

Each consignment must be accompanied by a commercial document stating that the product is either shelf stable or has been heat treated.

This licence revokes DARD/GEN/07/17 dated 10 October 2007 and is valid until further notice or unless revoked by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Signed, Lisa Reid, Officer of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Date: 21 November 2007

NOTES

1.	Any breach of any condition attached to this licence will constitute an offence against the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (as amended).
2.	Nothing in this licence gives exemption from any prohibition or restriction imposed by the food Hygiene Regulations (NI) 2006, the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2006 and the Medicines Acts 1968 and 1971 or by any legislation superseding or amending the same.