The Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and
Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced changes to the transport
policy when transporting animals to a show or exhibition.
From 1 October 2025 transports of the following nature will no
longer be deemed to be in connection with an economic activity
and are therefore exempt from Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 (EU
1/2005):
- where animals are taken to or from a specialist show or
competition and the primary purpose is for pleasure rather than
as part of a business; and
- where horses and ponies are transported by an owner for the
purpose of riding, showing or competing for pleasure e.g. show
jumping, gymkhanas etc.
Therefore, owners transporting the above animals to shows will no
longer be required to have mandatory transport approvals such as
a transporter authorisation certificate of competence or an
approved vehicle.
However, the following exceptions will still fall within the
scope of EU 1/2005 and will require the necessary transport
approvals:
- farmed animals attending shows;
- animals attending racing events; and
- professional horse riders/jockeys, including those
sponsored to compete.
If there is uncertainty whether the planned movement is in
connection with an economic activity, the transporter must
demonstrate to the competent authority that it has no connection
with an economic activity.
The Single Animal Exemption (SAE), which allowed individuals in
NI to transport a single animal without mandatory approvals, will
be revoked from 1 October 2025. From that date, anyone
transporting a single animal for economic purposes over 65km,
must have transporter authorisation. Depending on the species and
journey duration, a certificate of competence and vehicle
approval may also be required.
A DAERA spokesperson said: “The changes to these policies will
allow owners and their companion animals to move more freely to
animal shows and exhibitions. The changes will align DAERA's
policy with the approach taken in GB, which will help to resolve
the confusion which has existed around travel to these types of
shows.
“The revocation of the SAE will also close the loophole which has
permitted some commercial transporters to avoid having the
necessary transport approvals and training in place to transport
animals.”
Regardless of any change in policy it is an offence under the
Welfare of Animals (Transport) Regulations (NI) 2006 (WATR 2006)
to transport any animal in a way which causes, or is likely to
cause, injury or unnecessary suffering to that animal.
Full details of the changes and the transport approvals required
can be found on the DAERA website at https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/welfare-animals-during-transport.
Notes to Editors:
- EU 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport,
applies to the transport of animals which takes place in
connection with an economic activity. The regulation outlines
the general conditions for transporting animals and the
approvals and documentation required to do so.
- EU 1/2005 is directly applicable in Northern Ireland (NI)
under the Windsor Framework. It established a system throughout
the EU to protect animal welfare during transport. The
Regulation was implemented in Northern Ireland (NI) by the
Welfare of Animals (Transport) Regulations (NI) 2006, as
amended. Under these regulations, commercial transporters
based in NI must be authorised by DAERA if they wish to
transport animals on any journey over 65km.
- More information on EU 1/2005 located at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32005R0001
- DAERA is the Competent Authority for enforcing EU 1/2005 in
NI.
- EU 1/2005 does not provide a definition for an ‘economic
activity'. However, it states that “transport for commercial
purposes is not limited to transport where an immediate
exchange of money, goods or services takes place. Transport for
commercial purposes includes, in particular, transport which
directly or indirectly involves or aims at a financial gain”
- The SAE was adopted as a UK-wide policy in 2007. This
exemption permitted, within NI, an individual animal to be
transported with its owner/keeper (up to a maximum of four
people and four animals in a single vehicle) without the need
to have the mandatory transport approvals detailed above.
Recognition of the SAE policy was abolished across GB, although
it continued to apply for transport solely within NI. It
was never recognised in the ROI or elsewhere in the EU.
