An easing of the strict quarantine regulations covering the importation of pets into Ireland has been signalled by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Under current regulations cats and dogs imported into the Republic must stay in quarantine for six months at the official pound at Lissen Hall, near Swords, Co Dublin.
The alternative to this expensive method is for owners to provide their own quarantine facilities which must pass Department of Agriculture inspection. Pets must, however, spend one month in the official quarantine facility.
The changes to the regulations will be brought in at the same time as the regulations are due to be changed in the UK, from April 2001.
The UK authorities have decided to replace the quarantine system with vaccination, certification, blood-testing and microchip identification. The changes follow the publication of a report commissioned by the UK government and a three-month period of public consultation. A Department of Agriculture spokesman said yesterday that it had a common approach with the UK on the issue of rabies control for many years.
There had been considerable practical merit to this approach because of the disease-free status of the two islands and the Border with Northern Ireland.
The spokesman added there had been very close links between the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry for Agriculture and Food in the UK and officials from Dublin had taken part, at the invitation of MAFF, in a special group to discuss the issue.
He added that the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, had advised the Government of the likelihood of changes in the UK and his officials had had discussions with other Departments on the changes which might have to be made. Figures released yesterday showed that last year, licences were issued for the importation of 126 cats and 59 dogs into the country.
The majority of the pets were imported from the US and Canada (99), Europe accounted for 39, 17 licences were issued to people from Australia and New Zealand and 30 licences were issued to people from other countries.
Twelve people were given special licences to provide quarantine facilities for animals at their own homes.