To ensure that any importation is trouble free it is imperative that the appropriate documentation is in place BEFORE the animals leave their place of origin.
Because there are so many possible errors which can take place which may impact on the welfare of the animals we insist that all importation is handled through the unit.
Before starting the process of importation the following things need to be in place
1 details of the characteristics of the species . Please fill in this form and send it to biores@tcd.ie Strain details
2 Contact details of the person sending them to TCD. Please fill in this form and send it to biores@tcd.ie Sender of animals contact details
Approval in Principle
1. Agreement that there is appropriate space in the unit to hold the animals.( this involves a projection of the possible space implications for holding or breeding them)
2. A current health monitoring report which conforms to the FELASA guidelines ( in brief this will require 8-10 animal sample of the population to have been tested for the listed pathogens.
3. Unless animals are coming from recognised breeders ( Harlan, Charles River, Jackson Labs or B&K ) they will be required in addition to go through a quarantine period of 6 weeks with health monitoring at the end of it. The cost of this is detailed on the price list. We use 8 sentinel animals exposed to the same environment as the test animals.
4. To help access the likely resources which will need to be committed we need to have some information on any possible adverse trait which the animals have e.g. poor breeding ,homozygous lethal genes etc.
Transportation Details
1. IMPORT PERMIT we must apply to the Department Of Agriculture for an import permit. This takes a minimum of 14 days to get.
For fish we need an addition permit from the Sea Fisheries Protection agency Application form
2. We need a copy of a veterinary certificate either from the appropriate government agency (e.g. USDA) or from the institution veterinarian which ever is appropriate for the originating country. The original should travel with the animals . This is very very important because the Dept of Agriculture will refuse admission at the port if this is not available at the point of entry.
3. The full address where the animals are coming from and any other place they have been housed in the previous 6 months.
4. The contact details for the person responsible for dispatching the animals at the point of origin
5. 48 hours before they travel we need the following
A copy of the airway bill (AWB)
Date of arrival and exact port of entry in Dublin
Flight number
Approx time of arrival
The name of the handling agent and contact telephone number
( we use 'World Couriers' they are very good and reliable for animal
importation).
An agent is essential ,as collecting the animal in the airport can lead to a
lot of mix ups . The couriers get priority for clearance and you could be
waiting a long time if you do it personally this also has an impact on the welfare
of the animals and the time they may arrive in the unit.
The import permit must travel with the animals we will fax
it to the originator when we have a fixed date for importation .
CONTACT
Anne Brayely Phone + 353 1 896 2582/1498
BioResources Unit Fax + 353 1 8963630
Trinity College Dublin email brayleya-tcd.ie
Dublin 2
Ireland
update 22/5/08