2023/0164/IRL
EC/EFTA
IE Irland
  • C90A - Tier- und Haustierschutz
2023-07-05
2023-04-05

The import into Ireland of dogs where all or part of the ear of the dog has been removed.

Restriction on the import of dogs with cropped ears into Ireland

Ireland intends to introduce a statutory instrument on ear cropping of dogs. This practice is a serious animal welfare issue. One of the provisions concerns restrictions on the import of dogs with cropped ears.

These provisions will be:
(1) A person shall not import, or cause or permit another person to import, a dog with cropped ears except in accordance with a licence.
(2) The Minister may grant a licence to the owner of a dog with cropped ears that has had its ears removed or partly removed by a veterinary practitioner for the diagnosis or treatment of injury, disease or infection, attach conditions to the licence, vary or revoke a condition, revoke a licence or refuse an application.
(3) An application for a licence shall be in a form and contain any information that the Minister requires.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (2), the Minister may refuse an application or revoke a licence if, in his or her opinion—
(a) it is not accompanied by the fee (if any) set under section 73 of the Act,
(b) the ear of the dog was not removed or partly removed by a veterinary practitioner in the course of diagnosis or treatment of injury, disease or infection,
(c) the dog will not be kept by the owner at his or her normal place of residence,
(d) the applicant or person to whom the licence is granted has committed an offence under the Act or Regulations made under the European Communities Act 1972 that relate to the animal,
(e) the applicant or person to whom a licence is granted has failed to comply with a condition of a licence, or
(f) in relation to an application, information required has not been furnished or information that is false or misleading in a material respect has been furnished.
(5) If the Minister proposes to refuse an application or revoke a licence, he or she shall—
(a) notify the applicant or person to whom the licence has been granted of the proposal and the reasons for the proposal, and that he or she may make representations in relation to the proposal to the Minister within 14 days of the date of issue of the notification,
(b) consider a representation duly made before deciding whether to proceed with, or annul the proposal, and
(c) notify the applicant or person to whom the licence has been granted of the decision and the reasons for the decision.
(6) A person who operates, or is in control of, a vessel, vehicle or aircraft shall not use the vessel, vehicle or aircraft to import a dog mentioned in Regulation 3 unless a licence has been granted to the owner mentioned in paragraph (1).
Further provisions relating to import
A person shall not import, or cause or permit another person to import, a dog with cropped ears unless –
(a) the owner has given at least five days advance notice of the import in a manner determined by the Minister, and
(b) the dog is accompanied by a certificate, in a form that the Minister determines, issued by a veterinarian in the place of origin attesting that the ears of the dog were removed or partly removed for a specified veterinary purpose.