Horse Passports
New Equine Identification Rules
From 1st July 2009 new EU
regulations introduce a number of changes to existing Horse
Passport rules.
- All owners applying for a first time passport
for equines from 1st July 2009 will need to
micro-chip
- Only owners can apply for a passport
- Micro-chips must only be inserted by a
Veterinary Surgeon
- Passports must accompany equines on all
movements and be available for inspection at all times
- All equines prescribed medicines not
authorised for food producing animals including BUTE
(Phenylbutazone) must be signed out of the human food chain
- In the absence of a valid passport,
veterinary surgeons are limited to only administer/prescribe drugs
that are authorised for food producing animals
In addition:
- Owners or keepers responsible for the horse
must produce the passport without delay in the event of an
inspection
- Equines being issued with a first passport
outside the deadline dates will be excluded from the food
chain
- When a horse dies the owner must return the
passport to the issuing body within 30 days of its death
For further information please visit
www.wales.gov.uk/animalhealth