With the recent media attention regarding horsemeat being found in some processed foods there has been increased awareness and attention on Horse Passports. Horse Passports were made compulsory in 2007 and from 2009 all horse being issued with a new passport must be Microchipped.
Horse Owners must ensure each horse, pony and donkey in their care has a valid passport – You can be fined up to £5000 for not having a valid passport!Horses cannot be moved without their passport except in special cicumstances such as a short hack/ ride. This is primarily to ensure that no horses receiving certain medications enter the food chain and also to prevent the sale of stolen horses or ponies as the passport should prove its identity.
Section IX of the Horse Passport MUST be signed by the owner, keeper or veterinarian to identify whether the horse is ‘intended’ or ‘not intended’ to enter the human food chain. We are certain that vast majority of our clients would sign the section ‘not intended’ (unless their horse has been particularly naughty on the day of signing!) which allows us as vets to use any appropriate drug treatment to ensure the health of your horse.
We need to ensure that we keep adequate records to ensure that the horses under our care meet these requirements and we thus ask for your cooperation in recording passport numbers and ensuring passports are signed.
Sale of Horse/ Pony/ Donkey
It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that when they buy a new horse or pony that they receive a valid passport which is returned to the passport issuing organisation within 30 days of sale to verify change of ownership
Death of Horse/ Pony/ Donkey
It is the owner’s responsibility to return the horse’s passport to the Passport Issuing Authority within 30 days of the death of their horse or pony so that it may be invalidated.