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.  Requests 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)

3. New requirement: All Show/Fair Organisers concerning the nomination of 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 Certificates of Compliance will not be required.

7. Please ensure you familiarise yourself with the updated 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. Documentation is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/68686-animal-identification-movement-aim/#shows   Also see gov.ie - Data Protection Privacy Notices (www.gov.ie).

2.  CODE OF PRACTICE – BIOSECURITY

Showground Operators, Agricultural Premises and Livestock Marts

In general, movement and mixing of animals presents the greatest risk of the spread of most animal diseases.  For that reason, the operators of a livestock show, mart etc., have a key role to play in ensuring that the disease risks associated with their premises and operations are kept to a minimum.  Specific legal requirements apply in relation to bio-security arrangements.  Adherence to these bio-security arrangements and the guidelines outlined below can have a significant impact on reducing the opportunities for disease transmission.

Acceptance of Animals

1. All keepers must be appropriately registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) if presenting animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, horses and other equine, exotic/other animals including Llama, Alpaca).
2. Under no circumstances should animals that are improperly identified or registered or documentation incomplete be accepted.

Cleaning/Disinfection

1. All areas where animals will be located should be clean and contamination free prior to introducing animals for show purposes.
2. All areas where show animals are congregated, held or have been in contact, should be washed down thoroughly and disinfected with an approved disinfectant at the end of each day at a minimum.
3. Keep drinking/feeding troughs clean and free of animal waste or other contaminants.
4. Cleaning and disinfection facilities should be available on site for all transport vehicles delivering/collecting animals.  Shows should at all times enforce the use of these cleaning and disinfection facilities.  A list of approved disinfectants is available on the gov.ie website.
5. Ensure that clients, when visiting the premises, wear waterproof footwear (e.g., wellington boots) that can be cleaned and disinfected easily.
6. Provide footbaths with suitable approved disinfectant at appropriate locations on the premises.
7. Provide facilities for hand washing with liquid soap and for washing down footwear.
8. Provide signs on premises reminding people of the need to minimise the risks of disease transmission and the availability on-site of washing facilities for vehicles and persons.

Identification, Documentation and Record Keeping

1. Retain a record of the registration number of each vehicle delivering/collecting each consignment of animals.
2. Maintain a register, in readily accessible form, of all vendors/buyers, including numbers and types of animals involved in each transaction. 
3. Ensure compliance with all requirements in relation to record keeping and retention of records.
4. Forward completed Certificates of Compliance in respect of bovines and Sheep or Goat Dispatch Documents to the local RVO to ensure that the cattle, sheep and goat movement details are recorded on the AIM database within seven days of the show.  Failure to have movements recorded within the required time scale may have implications for the herd keeper/s involved.

Suspicious/Unusual Transactions or Movements

Report any suspicious or unusual transactions or movements involving livestock to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine or An Garda Síochána (such information can be provided on a strictly confidential basis).

3. ANIMAL WELFARE REQUIREMENTS

All show organisers must ensure that provisions are in place in advance of the show/fair to protect the welfare of all animals at the show.  The provisions must take account of the species of animal, the age and type of animal, the duration of the show and the likely weather conditions.  They should also take into account whether animals are accustomed to shows and their ability to cope with novel and stressful situations.  The Animal Health and Welfare Act No 15 of 2013 specifies the general legal provisions for animal welfare.

The following requirements apply: 

Animal accommodation:

All animal accommodation must be appropriate to the species and type of animals being housed/ penned and must:

• Prevent the animals from escaping and not cause injury to animals (e.g., no sharp edges or protrusions).
• Have non-slip/comfortable flooring with dry bedding at least in the case of animals with extra needs (e.g., young animals, pregnant and lactating animals).
• Have enough space that animals can move around, behave normally (groom etc) and lie down together if penned in groups.
• Ensure animals are penned in compatible groups or if penned individually that they can see other animals.
• Ensure animals are safeguarded against fire, environmental or other hazards.
• Ensure that the lighting is sufficient to allow easy inspection of the animals at all times.
• Have and use a designated hospital pen for sick or injured animals with handling facilities to allow safe examination of an animal.

Feed and water:

• Fresh water should be available to animals at all times during the show.  If suitable functional drinkers are not present in the pens, alternative arrangements must be put in place (e.g., facilities for keepers to fill buckets and supply water to their animals).  The volume of water needed should take account of the species and type of animals and the weather conditions.  
• Animals must have ready access to feed suitable during the show or at reasonable intervals in line with their species, age and type (e.g., calves not with their dam must be fed at least twice a day).

Protection from adverse weather:

• Animals must be protected from adverse or extreme weather conditions - shade/cover must be provided in the case of extremes of hot/cold-wet weather.
• Particular attention must be given to animals susceptible to heat or cold stress e.g., young animals, unshorn sheep.
• If animals are kept indoors/in tents, care must be taken to monitor the temperature in the indoor space and provide extra ventilation where necessary.

Handling

• Animals should be handled by experienced and competent personnel only (ideally the keeper).
• Moving/handling should be minimised, and handling should take account of the novel/stressful situation (move calmly and quietly, allow more time etc).

Nominated Animal Welfare Officer and Private Veterinary Practitioner

• Show/fair organisers must nominate an Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) in advance of each show or fair.
• The name and contact details (mobile phone number) for the AWO must be provided to the RVO SVI two weeks in advance of the event.
• For shows or fairs with single species or small numbers of animals, one AWO will suffice. For larger, multispecies events it may be prudent to have more than one AWO, however this is at the discretion of the show organiser.
• The role of the Animal Welfare Officer is
  • to assist in ensuring compliance with the animal welfare requirements at planning and during the show,
  • to act as a contact point in the event of any animal health or welfare concerns arising
  •  to help to co-ordinate any actions required to deal with such issues.
• In addition, show/fair organisers must provide the details of a nominated PVP or PVPs who will be available to attend the show, without delay, in the event of any animal requiring a veterinary assessment or treatment during the show.