Equine Passports Legislation
The horse passport regulations came into effect from 1st March 2005. Under EU legislation horses are classed as food-producing animals. In continental Europe many horses are killed for human consumption. In the UK most horse medicines are not licensed for food-producing animals. There was a strong risk that without new passport legislation we would lose the ability to use a many commonly prescribed drugs, the most notable being "bute" (equipalazone) which could adversely affect animal welfare. Equine passports document which veterinary medicines are administered during the horse’s life. They also provide unique ID of the horse and include a Unique Equine Life Number. They enable the UK to comply with EU regulations, whilst maintaining the ability to use a number of drugs that would otherwise have to be withdrawn.
Which horses require passports?
Under the new legislation every horse must have its own passport, which must contain Section IX (medicinal treatment). Foals must have a passport by 31st December in the year in which they were born, or by 6 months after its birth, which ever is later. A passport must be obtained for a foal prior to it being sold or consigned for slaughter. If a horse without a passport is imported into the UK and is resident for a period of greater then 30 days, a passport must be applied for. It is now illegal for horses without passports to be used for breeding, for the purpose of competition (e.g. race or show), sold (or for ownership to be transferred to another person), moved out of the UK, sent for slaughter (passport must be signed "for human consumption", or moved to the premises of a new "keeper".
- What happens when the vet attends my horse?
- You should present your passport to the attending vet before any veterinary medicines are administered to your horse. If you have not already applied you should do so immediately.
- What happens when my horse dies?
- Where a horse dies, other than at an abattoir, the owner must return the passport to the issuing organisation so records can be updated. This must be done within 30 days of death.
- What happens when I buy a horse?
- It is now illegal for a horse to be sold without a passport. If you buy a horse you need to notify the Passport Issuing Organisation of your name and address and the name and identification number of the horse as recorded in Section II of the passport. You also need to complete Section I of the passport. New owner Notification should be made within 30 days of purchase.
- What do the declarations mean for my horse?
- In Section IX of the passport there is a declaration at Part II and Part III A to indicate whether or not the horse is intended for slaughter for human consumption.
- Horses declared ‘Not intended for human consumption’
- If a horse is declared as ‘not intended for human consumption’, there will be no noticeable difference from current procedures for you and your horse. There is no need for drugs administered to your horse to be recorded, and there are no extra restrictions on which drugs can be given to your horse. Declarations that indicate that a horse is ‘not intended for slaughter for human consumption’ are irreversible.
- Horses declared ‘Intended for human consumption’
- If the horse is declared as ‘intended for human consumption’, there are a number of changes to current procedure. Firstly, there are a few drugs that cannot ever be given to a horse destined for human consumption (banned drugs). These include a number of commonly used drugs including Phenylbutazone ('Bute') and ACP (e.g. 'sedalin') If the horse that one of these is given, the declaration will have to be amended to ‘not intended for human consumption.
- Drugs banned for use in horses intended for human consumption
- Under the 2005 horse passport legislation, there are a number of drugs that cannot be given to a horse unless a declaration that the horse will not be going for human consumption has been made in the ‘medicinal treatment’ section of the passport. If one of these drugs has to be administered, the declaration can be signed at that time. Please visit our banned drugs page for a list of these drugs. As the owner of the horse declared for human consumption it is your legal responsibility to keep a separate log of every drug the horse receives whilst in your ownership (including all veterinary drugs, wormers, Hibiscrub, Animalintex etc). Declarations that a horse is ‘intended for human consumption’ can be changed to ‘not intended for human consumption’ at any time (but this cannot then be changed back).
- Horses for which no declaration has been made
- A horse for which no declaration has been made must be treated as if going for human consumption, including the logging of all products administered. The declaration can be signed at any time. However it must be signed before a banned drug is given (declaration must be “not intended for human consumption”, going for human consumption (declared as “intended for human consumption”, before the horse is sent outside the UK (either declaration is valid.
- You should think carefully about what you wish to happen to your horse at the end of its life, and which declaration you sign. Declaring a horse as ‘intended for human consumption’ does not mean you have to opt for abattoir euthanasia, but it leaves this option open. However, a detailed log of all drugs administered to the horse must be kept by you. A declaration as ‘not intended for human consumption’ cannot be reversed, and may influence potential future purchasers of your horse, but will make medication of your horse more straightforward.
- What do I do if I lose my horse's passport?
- If you lose your passport, it is your responsibility to apply for a replacement passport from the same Passport Issuing Authority who issued the original. The replacement should be clearly marked with the word "duplicate".
- Further q uestions:
- If you have any questions regarding horse passports, please contact Nixon Equine Vets weekdays between 8 and 9 am.
Download form for treatment of horses without a valid passport
Click here to download the form.
