Search Legislation

The Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales) Regulations 2011

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the The Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales) Regulations 2011. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.

Regulations 5 and 15

SCHEDULE 1E+WEuropean Union legislation

F1. . .

[F2Regulation 25]

SCHEDULE 2E+WSpecific requirements for individual cases

F3 PART 1 E+WAdditional requirements for trade with member States

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART 2 E+WAdditional provisions relating to imports from third countries

Arrival at premises of destinationE+W

8.—(1) This paragraph applies to elephants and to cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and all other animals of the taxa Artiodactyla, and their crossbreeds.

(2) Animals intended for immediate slaughter must be conveyed without delay from the border inspection post to the slaughterhouse of destination and slaughtered within five working days.

(3) In any other case the animals must be taken without delay from the border inspection post to the holding of destination and kept there for at least 30 days (unless consigned from the holding direct to a slaughterhouse).

Imported birdsE+W

9.—(1) The Welsh Ministers are the competent authority for [F4the import of certain birds and quarantine conditions for the purposes] [F5of] [F6Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 139/2013 laying down animal health conditions for imports of certain birds into the Union and the quarantine conditions thereof].

(2) An importer must comply with Article 7 (transport of birds) of that Regulation.

(3) No person may release a bird from quarantine except in accordance with Article 16 (release of birds) of that Regulation.

HorsesE+W

F710.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F8Ship supplyE+W

11.(1) A product that does not comply with import requirements and is sent from a border control post to a ship must be accompanied by the relevant health certificate relating to that product, and the master of the vessel must confirm delivery of the product by signing a certificate which must accompany the consignment to its place of destination.

(2) Within 15 days of completion of delivery of products on board the vessel, the operator responsible for the delivery, or the representative of the master of the vessel, must send the official certificate signed by the master of the vessel (or send by electronic means and systems) to the competent authorities of the border control post of entry or the approved customs warehouse.]

[F9Special Import ConditionsE+W

11A.(1) The Welsh Ministers may by regulations impose special import conditions in respect of imports from third countries of products of animal origin intended for human consumption, having regard to the animal health situation of the third country or countries concerned and may for that purpose amend, modify or revoke any [F10assimilated direct minor legislation] made under Article 8(4) of Council Directive 2002/99/EC.

(2) The power to make regulations under this paragraph—

(a)is exercisable by statutory instrument;

(b)includes power to make different provision for different purposes; and

(c)includes power to make such incidental, supplemental, consequential, transitory, transitional or saving provision as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.

(3) A statutory instrument containing regulations made under this paragraph is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of Senedd Cymru.]

Charges for veterinary checks from New ZealandE+W

F1112.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F12Regulation 26(1)]

SCHEDULE 3E+WCases to which Part 3 does not apply

Disapplication of Part 3E+W

1.  Part 3 of these Regulations does not apply in the cases set out in this Schedule.

Case 1: Personal imports and small consignmentsE+W

[F132.  Products referred to in Article 7 and Article 10 of [F14Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2122].]

Case 2: International means of transportE+W

3.  Products on board means of transport operating internationally that are intended for consumption by the crew and passengers and that are either—

(a)not unloaded;

(b)transferred directly from one means of transport operating internationally to another at the same port and under customs supervision; or

(c)destroyed as soon as they are unloaded.

[F15Case 3: Research and diagnostic samplesE+W

4.(1) Research and diagnostic samples as defined in point (38) of Annex 1 to [F16Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011] are exempt from veterinary checks at the border control post, provided that they have been authorised in advance by the Welsh Ministers and the consignment is sent directly from the point of entry to the authorised user.

F17(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[F18Case 4: Consignments cleared in Great BritainE+W

5.  Consignments of animals and products from third countries that have been presented to any border control post in Great Britain and cleared for free circulation.]

Case 5: Composite productsE+W

6.—(1) Composite products and foodstuffs listed in Annex II to Commission Decision 2007/275/EC.

(2) Composite products not containing meat or meat products, where less than half of the product is processed product of animal origin, provided that such products are—

(a)shelf-stable at ambient temperature or have clearly undergone, in their manufacture, a complete cooking or heat treatment process throughout their substance, so that any raw product is denatured;

(b)clearly identified as intended for human consumption;

(c)securely packaged or sealed in clean containers; and

(d)accompanied by a commercial document and labelled in [F19English (whether or not it also appears in any other language)], so that that document and labelling together give information on the nature, quality and number of packages of the composite products, the country of origin, the manufacturer and the ingredient.

Case 6: Animals subject to rabies controlE+W

7.  Animals specified in Schedule 1 to the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 M1 and imported in accordance with a licence under that Order.

Marginal Citations

M1S.I. 1974/2211 to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

[F20Case 7: [F21Relevant] animals intended for scientific purposesE+W

8.(1) [F22Relevant] animals intended for scientific purposes such as research, educational activities or research related to product development activities are exempt from official controls at border control posts, other than controls carried out in accordance with Article 15(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 M2, provided that—

(a)they comply with all requisite animal health requirements;

(b)they have been authorized by the Welsh Ministers ;

(c)when the activities relating to the scientific purposes have been carried out, they and any products derived from them, with the exception of any portions used for the scientific purposes, must be disposed of or re-dispatched to the third country of origin.

[F23(1A) In this paragraph, “relevant animals” means—

(a)animals listed in Schedule 2 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and

(b)invertebrate animals.]

[F24(2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to zebra fish, aquatic molluscs belonging to the phylum Mollusca or aquatic crustaceans belonging to the subphylum Crustacea.]

[F25(3) The reference to educational activities in sub-paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to—

(a)vertebrate animals; or

(b)honey bees (Apis mellifera) or bumble bees (Bombus spp).]]

[F26Case 8: low risk goods exempted from routine checks under Article 48(h) of the Official Controls RegulationE+W

9.  Low risk goods exempted from routine identity and physical checks in accordance with conditions specified by regulation 10 of the Official Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024.]

Textual Amendments

Regulation 43

SCHEDULE 4E+WConsequential amendments

Amendment to the Bluetongue (Wales) Regulations 2008E+W

1.  After regulation 19 of the Bluetongue (Wales) Regulations 2008 M3 insert—

PART 3A E+WExports

19A.(1) A person must not export any animal, semen, ovum or embryo to a third country unless it complies with Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1266/2007 on implementing rules for Council Directive 2000/75/EC as regards the control, monitoring, surveillance and restrictions on movements of certain animals of susceptible species in relation to bluetongue.

(2) An inspector who has reasonable cause to suspect that a person intends to export any animal, semen, ovum or embryo in contravention of this regulation may by notice served on that person, that person's representative or the person appearing to be in charge of the animal, semen, ovum or embryo, prohibit that export and require the person on whom the notice is served to take the animal, semen, ovum or embryo to such places as may be specified in the notice and to take such further action in relation to it as may be specified in the notice.

(3) If a notice served under paragraph (2) is not complied with, an inspector may seize any animal or thing to which it relates and arrange for the requirements of the notice to be complied with at the expense of the person on whom the notice was served..

Marginal Citations

Amendment to the Importation of Animal Products and Poultry Products Order 1980E+W

2.  The Importation of Animal Products and Poultry Products Order 1980 M4, insofar as it relates to Wales, is amended by inserting after article 1—

Scope

1A.  This Order does not apply in relation to any importation in relation to which the Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales) Regulations 2011 apply..

Marginal Citations

M4S.I. 1980/14 to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

Regulation 26(2)

[F27SCHEDULE 5E+WApplication of, derogations from, and modifications to, Part 3 in relation to territories subject to special transitional import arrangements

PART 1E+WIntroductory

ApplicationE+W

1.  This Schedule applies to products and live animals that originate from—

(a)a territory subject to special transitional import arrangements; or

(b)a third country other than a territory subject to special transitional import arrangements where, before importation into Wales, the products or live animals concerned—

(i)have been presented to a member State border control post recognised by the Welsh Ministers;

(ii)are accompanied by a CHED which has been completed to the satisfaction of the relevant authority; and

(iii)have been pre-notified.

InterpretationE+W

2.  For the purposes of this Schedule—

“pre-notified” (“rhaghysbysu”) means notified using the appropriate computerised information management system;

“relevant goods” (“nwyddau perthnasol”) means products and live animals falling within paragraph 1;

“territory subject to special transitional import arrangements” (“tiriogaeth sy’n ddarostyngedig i drefniadau mewnforio trosiannol arbennig”) means—

(a)

an EU member State;

(b)

the Faroe Islands;

(c)

Greenland;

(d)

Iceland;

(e)

Liechtenstein;

(f)

Norway;

(g)

Switzerland;

“working day” (“diwrnod gwaith”) means a day other than Saturday or Sunday which is not Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday under section 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.

Application of, derogations from, and modifications to, Part 3 of these RegulationsE+W

3.  The provisions of Part 3 of these Regulations apply to relevant goods with the derogations and modifications specified in Part 2 of this Schedule.

PART 2E+WDerogations from, and modifications to, Part 3 of these Regulations

Derogation from regulation 13: place of importationE+W

[F284.(1) From 30th April 2024, regulation 13 applies in relation to Wales as if—

(a)the existing text were renumbered as paragraph (1); and

(b)in paragraph (1) (as renumbered) for “other than at a border inspection post designated for that animal or product” there were substituted—

other than—

(a)in accordance with paragraphs (2) or (3); or

(b)as regards any product, following the designation of a border control post for the product in question, through that border control post.;

(c)after paragraph (1) there were inserted—

(2) Live animals coming from a relevant third country may continue to enter Wales through any point of entry.

(3) Relevant goods (other than live animals) coming from the Republic of Ireland, which—

(a)fall within the description in paragraph 1(a) of Schedule 5, or

(b)fall within the description in paragraph 1(b) of Schedule 5 and have been cleared for free circulation under Union customs legislation,

may enter Wales through any point of entry..]

Derogation from regulation 14: timing of notification of importationE+W

5.[F29(1) From 30th April 2024, subject to the derogation specified in sub-paragraphs (3C) and (3D), regulation 14(1) to (4) applies to relevant goods, as if—

(a)in sub-paragraph (1), for the words from “notify through” to “border control post”, in the second place where it occurs, there were substituted “notify the competent authority in relation to Wales of the expected date of arrival of the consignment in Wales”;

(b)in sub-paragraph (3) after “made”, there were inserted “through the appropriate computerised information management system”;

(c)in sub-paragraph (4)—

(i)for the opening words, there were substituted—

(4) In the case of a transhipment of products from a point of entry in Wales to another point of entry or border control post, the person responsible for the consignment must notify the competent authority of the destination of—;

(ii)in paragraph (b), for “border control post at which” there were substituted “place at which, if required,”;]

F30(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F30(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F30(3A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F31(3B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F32(3C) In relation to [F33relevant goods] entering Wales from the Republic of Ireland on or after 31st January 2024, the requirement that the goods be pre-notified before entry does not apply where the condition in sub-paragraph (3D) is met.

(3D) The condition is that the goods are qualifying Northern Ireland goods that, in the course of passing from Northern Ireland into Wales, have passed through the Republic of Ireland and have not passed through any other country or territory.]

(4) For the purposes of this paragraph—

F34(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F35(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F36(c)qualifying Northern Ireland goods” has the meaning given by regulation 3 of the Definition of Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.]

Derogation from regulation 15: procedure on importationE+W

6.(1) Regulation 15 does not apply to relevant goods but—

[F37(a)from 30th April 2024—

(i)any identity and physical checks carried out on products may take place either at the point of entry into Wales or at the destination indicated in the importation document accompanying the consignment;

(ii)subject to the requirements of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97, official controls in relation to live animals may take place at the destination indicated in the importation document accompanying the animals;

(aa)the checks referred to in paragraph (a) must be carried out on a risk or random basis and at the appropriate frequency rate;

(ab)the operator responsible for a consignment of products must ensure that the consignment is presented for official controls at a reasonable time during the working day;

(ac)the competent authority, having carried out a documentary check and any necessary identity and physical checks on the consignment, may issue a CHED permitting entry;

(ad)where there are no legislative requirements relating to the consignment, the competent authority may issue a CHED where the importation of the consignment is authorised in accordance with the procedure specified in regulation 15(5) to (7);]

(b)from 1 January 2021, relevant goods consisting of—

(i)live animals or germinal products may not be imported into Wales unless they are accompanied by the appropriate health certificate for third country imports, in the form published by the Welsh Ministers or the Secretary of State;

F38(ii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F39(ba)from 31st January 2024—

(i)relevant goods consisting of products of animal origin may not be imported into Great Britain at any place in Wales unless they are accompanied by—

(aa)the appropriate health certificate for third country imports in the form published by the Welsh Ministers or the Secretary of State from time to time; or

(bb)where they meet the conditions in sub-paragraph (1A) or are listed in sub-paragraph (1B), relevant commercial documents which at least identify the premises of origin and destination and contain a description of the product and the quantity of the product; and

(ii)relevant goods consisting of animal by-products or derived products may not be imported into Great Britain at any place in Wales unless they are accompanied by—

(aa)in the case of goods listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 6 which are stated in the health certificate to be intended for the use (or use of a kind) mentioned in relation to those goods in column 2 of that table, the appropriate health certificate for third country imports in the form published by the Welsh Ministers or the Secretary of State from time to time; or

(bb)in any other case, relevant commercial documents which at least identify the premises of origin and destination and contain a description of the product and the quantity of the product.]

F40(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F41(1A) The conditions referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(ba)(i)(bb) are that they—

(a)are shelf-stable at ambient temperature;

(b)are securely packaged or sealed in clean containers; and

(c)are not one of the following categories of goods—

(i)infant formula;

(ii)follow-on formula;

(iii)baby food;

(iv)food for special medical purposes;

(v)beeswax;

(vi)pollen;

(vii)propolis;

(viii)royal jelly; or

(ix)products derived from live bivalve molluscs, live echinoderms, live tunicates and live marine gastropods.

(1B) The products referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(ba)(i)(bb) are—

(a)composite products listed in a document published by the Secretary of State under Article 3(1)(a) of Commission Decision 2007/275 or referred to in Article 4 of that Decision, except for products listed in sub-paragraph (1A)(c)(i) to (iv) and (ix);

(b)dairy products or colostrum-based products that have been subject to a heat treatment referred to in point 2(1) of Chapter 2, Section 9 of Annex 3 to Regulation 853/2004, except for fresh milk and the products listed in sub-paragraph (1A)(c)(i) to (iv);

(c)fresh fishery products or prepared fishery products that are—

(i)from wild freshwater or seawater animals of species other than of the Scombridae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Coryfenidae, Pomatomidae, or Scombresosidae families, and

(ii)either not live or non-viable;

(d)gelatine;

(e)collagen;

(f)highly refined products of animal origin;

(g)honey;

(h)rendered animal fat;

(i)greaves.]

(2) The documents described in sub-paragraph (1)(b) [F42and (ba)] F43... must accompany the consignment of the relevant goods concerned to its place of destination.

[F44(3) in this paragraph—

[F45(za)appropriate frequency rate” has the meaning given by paragraph 2 of Annex 6 to the Official Controls Regulation;]

(a)colostrum-based product” has the meaning given in point 2 of Section 9 of Annex 3 to Regulation 853/2004;

(b)“collagen”, “dairy product”, “fishery product”, “fresh fishery products”, “gelatine” “greaves”, “prepared fishery products” and “rendered animal fat” have the meanings given in Annex 1 to Regulation (EC) 853/2004;

(c)highly refined products of animal origin” means the products listed in point 1 of Section 16 of Annex 3 to Regulation 853/2004;

(d)“infant formula”, “follow-on formula”, “baby food” and “food for special medical purposes” have the meanings given in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control;

(e)non-viable” means they would no longer be able to survive as living animals if returned to the environment from which they were obtained;

(f)Regulation 853/2004 means Regulation (EC) 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin;

(g)shelf-stable at ambient temperature” means they are not required to be transported or stored at controlled temperatures.]

Textual Amendments

Derogation from regulation 19(a): unchecked consignmentsE+W

7.[F46(1)] Regulation 19(a) does not apply to relevant goods [F47coming from a relevant third country] which have entered Wales through a point of entry other than a border control post in accordance with this Schedule.

[F48(2) An enforcement authority may seize any consignment which is removed from a point of entry in Wales without a CHED or without authorisation by the competent authority.

(3) An enforcement authority may seize any consignment which is transported from a point of entry in Wales to a destination other than that specified in the CHED.]

Modification of regulation 20: action following failure of checks or seizure - productsE+W

[F498.(1) Regulation 20 applies as if—

(a)for paragraph (1) there were substituted—

(1) This regulation applies, subject to paragraph (1A), in relation to any consignment of a product if any checks carried out show that the consignment does not comply with—

(a)the requirements of these Regulations, as they have effect subject to the transitional modifications specified in Schedule 5; or

(b)the rules referred to in Article 1(2) of the Official Controls Regulation.

(1A) This paragraph applies where—

(a)there is non-compliance with the rules referred to in paragraph (1); and

(b)the official veterinary surgeon or the official fish inspector (as appropriate) considers that the non-compliance is minor and technical and does not pose a risk to human, animal or plant health, or to the environment.

(1B) Where paragraph (1A) applies, paragraphs (2) and (3) apply as if for “must” there were substituted “may”.;]

[F50Modification of regulation 23: action following failure of checks or seizure - animalsE+W

9.  Regulation 23 applies as if, in paragraph (1)—

(a)for “the checks at a border control post” there were substituted “checks”;

(b)after “Official Controls Regulation” there were inserted “or, in the case of relevant goods, does not comply with the provisions of Schedule 5,]

Derogation from regulation 27: re-importation of animals and productsE+W

10.(1) Regulation 27 does not apply in the circumstances described in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) Products and live animals that originate from Wales and which have been rejected from entering the European Union at a European Union border control post are not required to re-enter Wales through a Welsh border control post if—

(a)in the case of products and live animals that are not high risk, notification of the re-entry has been given to the Welsh Ministers or the Food Standards Agency;

(b)in the case of products and live animals that are high risk, the re-entry has been authorised in writing by the Welsh Ministers or the Food Standards Agency before the re-entry is to take place.

(3) In this paragraph, “high risk” means the products or live animals are suspected of constituting a serious risk to human or animal health or animal welfare.

PART 3E+WAdditional rules in relation to relevant goods consisting of live animals

Live animalsE+W

11.(1) This paragraph applies in relation to relevant goods consisting of live animals.

(2) The live animals must remain under restricted movement at the place of destination indicated in the health certificate until the completed and signed health certificate has been uploaded to the appropriate computerised information management system.

(3) The person responsible for the transportation of the live animals to the place of destination must be in possession of the appropriate authorisation in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005.]

paragraph 6(1)(ba)(ii)(aa) of Schedule 5

[F51SCHEDULE 6 E+WTransitional import arrangements: animal by-products and derived products requiring a health certificate on importation

Column 1

Description of Product

Column 2

Intended use in Great Britain

Animal by-productsThe manufacture of petfood other than raw petfood
Animal by-productsThe manufacture of derived products for uses outside the feed chain
Apiculture by-productsApiculture
Untreated blood and blood products from equidaeOther than as feed material
Untreated blood products, еxcluding those from equidaeFor the manufacture of derived products for uses outside the feed chain for farmed animals
Blood productsFeed material
CollagenFeed material
Colostrum and colostrum products from bovine animalsFeed material
Dicalcium phosphateFeed material
Dog chewsFor pet animals
Egg productsFeed material
Fat derivativesFeed material
Flavouring innardsManufacture of petfood
Fish oilFeed material
Untreated game trophies or other preparations from birds and ungulates consisting of entire anatomical partsOther than as feed material
GelatineFeed material
Hydrolysed proteinFeed material
Milk, milk-based products and milk-derived productsFeed material
Pig bristlesAny lawful use
Processed animal proteinFeed material, other than petfood
Processed animal protein other than those derived from farmed insects, including mixtures and products other than petfood containing such proteinOther than as feed material
Raw petfoodPetfood
Rendered fatsFeed material
Trade samplesTrade samples
Tricalcium phosphateFeed material
Untreated hides and skins of ungulatesAny lawful use]

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. The revised version is currently only available in English.

Original (As Enacted or Made) - English: The original English language version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Original (As Enacted or Made) - Welsh:The original Welsh language version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as made version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources