Current Legislation
The Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004 requires all owners to obtain a passport for each horse they own. This includes ponies, donkeys, and other equidae. Owners cannot sell, export, slaughter for human consumption, use for the purposes of competition or breeding, a horse which does not have a passport.
Any owner who has not applied for a passport for their horses should apply to a Passport Issuing Organisation.
New Legislation
The new legislation, from 1st July 2009, builds upon this and the main new feature is that horse passports are to be linked to the animal by a uniquely coded identification microchip.
The new Horse passport regulations 2009 came into force on 1st July 2009
All horses issued with a new passport after 30th June 2009, must be microchipped. Foals must be identified before 31st December of the year of its birth or within six months of birth, whichever is later
Other adult horses not previously issued with a passport should also be microchipped and their passports will be signed as not intended for the food chain
Only Veterinary Surgeons can implant a microchip into a horse and they must check the animal for an existing microchip prior to implantation and any evidence that a microchip has been removed
Zebra and other exotic equines are now included in the scheme
If the passport is not available or the vet does not know whether or not the horse is eligible for entry into the food chain the vet should not administer drugs not authorised for food producing animals and must use an alternative product
Owners and keepers with primary responsibility (a person who takes care of the animal on a day to day basis e.g. Full Livery, Racehorse trainers etc) must ensure their horses are correctly identified and be able to produce the passport without delay in the event of an inspection
Only owners can apply for a passport
The passport must accompany the horse at all times unless stabled or at pasture or moved on foot when the passport can be made available within 3 hours
When a horse passes away, the owner must send the passport back to the PIO to be recorded within 30 days – the passport may be returned to the owner once the process is completed if requested
If the passport is not available when the vet is in attendance - the owner is responsible for ensuring that the drugs administered are recorded on the passport
Failure to comply with the new legislation is punishable by a fine of up to £5000
This is merely a broad précis of the regulations. Copies of the regulations themselves, a list of Recognised organisations, and frequently asked questions, may be found on the DEFRA website at www.defra.gov.uk
For further information please visit Directgov (citizen facing):
www.direct.gov.uk/horsepassports
A fact sheet summarising the changes is attached. Information can also be obtained from contacting our Animal Health Officer on the above telephone number.
Lost and Stray Dogs
