2025

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ORGANISERS OF

AND EXHIBITORS AT LIVESTOCK SHOWS/FAIRS, 2025

1.  GENERAL

1. Agriculture Show/Fair organisers must notify the Superintending Veterinary Inspector (SVI) at their local Department of Agriculture Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) of the intention to hold a show and provide the location and proposed dates of the show/event at least two weeks prior to event.

2. Keeper herd numbers for Agricultural Shows/Fairs must be obtained in advance from Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) Division, Backweston Administration Building, Stacumny Lane, Celbridge, Co Kildare, W23 X3PH - Telephone (01) 5058882 or by email to aim@agriculture.gov.ie.  Request for a keeper number for a Show/Fair should be made at least two weeks before the event using form NBAS 37 (see Appendix 1). Where a Show/Fair number already exists please also return a completed form on an annual basis providing updated details.

3. All Show/Fair Organisers must nominate an Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) and Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP):
   1. An AWO/s for each show to assist in ensuring compliance with the animal welfare requirements and to act as a contact point in the event of any animal health or welfare concerns arising during the show.
   2. A PVP is required to attend the show in the event of any animal requiring a veterinary assessment or treatment during the show.
   3. The name and contact details for each of these must be provided to the RVO SVI two weeks in advance of the show (see Section 3 below for further details).

4. Exhibitors should apply in good time to the Show Secretary to check any requirements specific to that show.

5. AIM Division receives queries concerning a small number of “Local Fairs”.  All such events must be notified to the SVI in the relevant RVO.  The SVI will advise on the management of such events including the procedures to be followed in respect of recording the movement of animals concerned.

6. Where a livestock mart premises is being used for the purpose of a show and the livestock mart system is being utilised to record the intake and onward movement of the bovine animals to the AIM database, a Certificate of Compliance will not be required.

7. Please ensure you familiarise yourself with the criteria set out in Section “Specific Requirements – Cattle “and the application form (NBAS 31K – see Appendix 2) to forward to the RVO when requesting a Certificate of Compliance for movement of bovine to a Show.

8. Any journey transporting animals over 65km within the Island of Ireland requires the animal transporter to apply and obtain Animal Transport Authorisation (TYPE 1) in line with EU Reg 1/2005 and SI 675 of 2006.  Please ensure that any animal transporters have applied for this authorisation well in advance of any shows or that they already have this authorisation in place.  Any journey transporting animals over 65km and off the Island of Ireland into the EU will require Animal Transporter Authorisation (TYPE 2).  Both of these Animal Transport Authorisations can be applied for directly to the email: transport@agriculture.gov.ie, who will aid you in the process.

9. Documentation is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/68686-animal-identification-movement-aim/#shows   

10. Also see gov.ie - Data Protection Privacy Notices (www.gov.ie).