Cross Border Cattle Trade Between Ireland and Northern Ireland Set to Resume
Northern Ireland livestock market to reopen for Irish cattle
Cross border cattle trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland is expected to resume within days following bluetongue related restrictions earlier this year.
According to reporting by the Irish Farmers Journal, exports of breeding and store cattle, along with sheep, were suspended after bluetongue virus was detected in Co Wexford in January 2026. Officials in Brussels have now agreed draft wording for an EU derogation that will allow the trade to fully reopen.
The decision is expected to provide relief to marts, exporters and Northern Ireland farmers who rely heavily on cross border livestock movements. Industry participants say the reopening of the market should help restore normal trading flows across the island.
Source: Irish Farmers Journal | 4 March 2026
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