Health Certificates Required
The table below shows which animal health certificates are required under Commission Regulation (EC) 1251/2008 and Commission Decision 2010/221/EU. Both you and your supplier should be aware of these requirements. Your supplier should arrange to have the consignment certified by the relevant authorities in the country of origin. Full text versions of any piece of European legislation can be found on the EUR-Lex website.
| Consignment for Import | Certificate Required |
| Coldwater Ornamental Fish from another EU member state | 1251/2008, Annex 2 Part A, as amended |
| Tropical Ornamental Fish from another EU member state | Certification is not required |
| Coldwater or mixed (coldwater and tropical) ornamental fish from outside the EU | Commission Regulation 1251/2008/EC Annex IV Part A as amended |
| Tropical Ornamental Fish from outside the EU |
1251/2008 Annex IV Part B as amended or 1251/2008 Annex IV Part A as amended if part of a mixed consignment. |
Note: Tropical species are ornamental aquatic animals which are held in heated aquaria and which are not capable of surviving in the natural aquatic environment in Ireland.
The Marine Institute is the Competent Authority for the implementation of Fish Health Regulations. Other regulations may apply when importing ornamental aquatic animals, for example the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Please note, the import or sale of genetically modified (GM) ornamental fish is currently illegal in the European Union. This includes GM varieties of Zebrafish Danio rerio commonly known as GloFish®. In Ireland, the agency responsible for the regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Further information on the illegal import of GM Zebrafish can be found on their website. If you suspect that GM ornamental fish are being sold in Ireland you should notify the EPA.
Veterinary Border Inspection Posts
If you are importing from a third country, your consignment must enter the European Community through a Border Inspection Post (BIP) that is authorised to accept live fish. BIPs are European Union approved entry points for animals/animal products originating in countries outside the EU. Ireland does not have a BIP authorised to accept live fish, except Shannon which is authorised to accept live ova.
Imports of live fish from outside the European Community must arrive in Ireland via an EU BIP authorised to accept live fish. The BIPs at London Heathrow and Frankfurt are regularly used for the import of ornamental aquatic animals.
A full list of veterinary border inspection posts with contact details can be accessed here.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information on ornamental imports