Ireland has been declared free from a number of diseases which affect various species of commercial and ornamental fish under EU animal health law.
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Ireland’s health status
'Listed Species' are those which can be affected by, or can be carriers of, the diseases listed in EU legislation. These can be found in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882, as amended, and Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/260, as amended (see Annex III).
Areas within the EU which are free from these diseases can be found in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/620, as amended (see Annexes XII to XVIII), and also in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/260, as amended (see Annex I).
For consolidated versions of the above legislation, which incorporate any subsequent amendments, please search the EUR-Lex website. Once you have found a piece of legislation, simply click the “Current Consolidated Version” link.
A summary document detailing the listed diseases, susceptible/vector species, and Ireland's health status for each can be downloaded here.
Imports from EU member states
Listed species may only come from compartments/establishments with a health status which is greater or equal to Ireland's.
This means that, if Ireland has been declared free of a particular disease, we may only accept its susceptible or vector species from an area which has also been declared free of that disease.
'Non-listed' species i.e. those which are not considered to be susceptible or vectors, may be imported from any Member State.
Imports from Non-EU States / Third Countries (including Great Britain)
Certain listed species may be imported from the list of territories outlined in Annex XXI of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, as amended.
However, as with imports coming from with the EU, listed species may only come from compartments/establishments with a health status which is greater or equal to Ireland's.
All non-listed species may originate from any of the countries referenced in the above regulation, or any other country which is a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
See our section on Certification Requirements in order to ensure that your consignment travels with the correct health documentation for import to Ireland.
Importing non-listed species
Importing ornamental crayfish - prohibited species
Please note it is now illegal to import, keep, breed, transport, sell, exchange, or release to the environment, all species of freshwater Crayfish, except for the native White-Clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes).
The European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 374 of 2024) came into force on 24th July 2024.
For further information on these regulations, please contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
References
References
https://www.npws.ie/contact-us
References
Download
Legislation, guidance, and contacts
View all documentsCommission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882
'Listed Species' are those which can be affected by, or can be carriers of, the diseases listed in EU legislation.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/620
Areas within the EU which are free from these diseases can be found in this regulation, as amended (see Annexes XII to XVIII).
Listed diseases, susceptible/vector species, and Ireland's health status
A summary document detailing the listed diseases, susceptible/vector species, and Ireland's health status for each can be downloaded here.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404
Certain listed species may be imported from the list of territories outlined in Annex XXI of this regulation, as amended.
Importing non-listed aquatic species
Click here for further information on importing non-listed aquatic species.
European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 374 of 2024)
The regulations came into force on 24th July 2024.
National Parks and Wildlife Service contact details
For further information on these regulations, please contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).