Regulation 17 Cattle from another member State
If cattle are brought in from another member State, the keeper shall, within 15 days of arrival at the holding of destination, surrender the cattle passport (if any) accompanying the animal to the appropriate Minister and apply to him for a cattle passport under these Regulations and failure to do so shall be an offence.
It shall be a defence for any person charged under this regulation to prove that—
when the animal was imported, the holding of destination was a slaughterhouse, and
the animal was slaughtered within the time limit for applying for a cattle passport,
but in this case the keeper shall give any cattle passport accompanying the animal to the official veterinary surgeon or his representative at the time of slaughter, and failure to do so shall be an offence.