Whether you are shipping goods from Ireland or to Ireland, for personal use, or for industrial use, there are certain items which are prohibited for transport due to public health concerns, danger to the environment, criminality and public morals. Below is a list of items that, while not every day items that the average person or company would look to transport, are useful to be made aware of.
Environmental and Global Protection
Dangerous Chemicals and Pesticides
Dangerous chemicals are surrounded by regulations and restrictions and the general rule of thumb is to notify the relevant designated national authority to wait for consent if exporting. In particular cases, you need to wait for the consent of the importing party before you can go ahead. Duties are imposed on such transportations due to the danger they pose and any individual or company should contact the HSA Chemical Helpdesk in the Health and Safety Authority for more information. This also includes the control and transportation of pesticides, whereby the authority to contact is the pesticide registration and control division in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
Shipment Waste and Ozone Depleting Substances
Dublin City Council is designated as the national authority for the import and export of waste shipments, including the procedures, enforcement provisions and movement of waste shipments into and out of the EU. Ozone depleting substances such as Halons, CFCs, HCFC etc and the equipment pertaining to those substances, are prohibited in general from import and export, but there are a few exceptions where licences and quotas apply. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is the authority for enforcing the regulations surrounding these substances and all potential importers and exporters who wish to ship any of the exceptions to or from Ireland need to register with the European Commission’s ODS database.
POPS and CITES
(POPS) refers to persistent organic pollutants, which are banned substances for production, placing on the market, use (with limited exceptions) and transport. The Resource Use Unit in the EPA is the point of contact for any queries. CITES stands for the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species and is an international agreement between governments, it is in place to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not pose a threat to their continued survival. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government manages this in Ireland and the functions are carried out by The National Parks and Wildlife Service within the department.
Radioactive Substances and Nuclear Devices
An application for a licence to import or export a radioactive source has to be made to the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII). Without a valid licence, fines and potential imprisonment can be imposed. Licences must be applied for at least 1 month in advance of shipment and the RPII is the point of contact for further information.
Dangerous Weapons
Offensive Weapons, Dual Use Items, Firearms and Ammunition
Offensive weapons are banned in Ireland and as such any item deemed to be offensive may be subject to clearance by the relevant authority of the recipient country. Export controls are in place for Dual Use Items and technology, items that can be used for military and civilian purposes. Exportation of this items is subject to a valid license provided by the relevant authority the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Transporting firearms and ammunition into Ireland is strictly prohibited except under licence issued by the Minister for Justice and Equality or by the holder of a current firearm certificate for the specific firearm. Exportation of firearms and ammunition is also strictly prohibited unless again under licence given by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
Military, Explosives and Torture
Military goods cannot be exported from Ireland to another EU state without a licence from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. It is strictly prohibited to move explosives and pyrotechnics except under licence for importation from the Minister for Justice and Equality and under licence for exportation from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Trade sanctions are widely used by the international community and apply in Ireland as part of the EU community. Goods which might be considered for use for torture are prohibited to be imported regardless of the origins of the goods and only for exportation under a licence issued by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
Public Morals
Importing indecent photographs, prints, paintings, books, cards, lithographs or other engravings, or any other articles of this nature is prohibited. This also includes books and periodical publications which have been made the subject of Prohibition Orders under the various Censorship of Publication Acts. They are only allowed to enter the country from an EU member state under a permit issued by the Minister for Justice and Equality. Any book may also be referred to the Censorship of Publication Board for a decision on if it is permissible or not. Ireland’s official censor can prohibit the importation of certain video recordings and the bringing in of Child Pornography into Ireland is strictly prohibited.
