Why do horses have to have a passport?

Since 2004 it has become law that all equines (including ponies, donkies and other equidae) have to have a DEFRA registered approved passport.  This has been enforced by the Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004 to regulate medicines that enter the human food chain.  Many of the drugs used for treating horses could pose a risk to human health if these equines were slaughtered for human consumption so it is very important that this is regulated.

Who is responsible for making sure that each horse has a passport?

The owner is responsible for making sure that each horse in their ownership has an up to date passport.  Even if the horse is kept with a keeper (i.e. out on loan or kept at a livery yard), if the owner was found not to have a passsport they could be fined up to £5000 per horse.

What information should be in a DEFRA registered passport?

Each passport should hold the following information:

• Horse's name and details, i.e. breeding, age, colour, passport number and life number.
• Owner's details - this must be updated whenever the ownership of the horse changes.
• Identification check page for use at competitions.
• Identification sketch - this includesd white marks, whorls etc.
• Vaccination records.
• Medicinal treatment part I, II and III.
• Microchip number (if passport issued after July 2009).

My horse has a passport that was issued before 2004 and doesn't include all of the DEFRA list. What should I do?

Many passports issued before 2004 do not have the medicinal treatment section.  Without this the passport isn't valid.  If this is the case, the passport needs to be sent back to the passport issuing organisation for this section to be inserted.  Once returned to you this section needs to be completed to confirm if the equine is for human consumption.  Equines that have passports issued before 2004 do not have to be microchipped.

When should I apply for a passport?

Since July 2009, all passport applications now have to be accompanied by a microchip number,  This microchip, by law, has to be inserted by a veterinarys surgeon.

For all adult horses, passport applications should be completed as soon as possible to prevent the owner being fined for having a horse in their ownership that isn't passported.

Foals need to have a passport issued within 6 months of birth OR by 31st December of the year they were born, which ever is the latest.

How can I apply for a passport?

There are over 70 Passport Issuing Organisations authorised by DEFRA.  All of these vary slightly in price.  Once you have received an application form you must contact your veterinary surgeon who will examine your horse and take down the markings.  They will also check to see if your horse has been previously microchipped.  If your horse has no microchip then your vet will insert one at this time.  The vet will complete the markings and microchip number details on the application form.  It is then your responsibility to send the completed form to the society along with payment.  Any fees the veterinary surgeon may charge are over and above the fees from the Passport Issuing Organistion.

Can I sell a horse without a passport?

A horse may not be sold (privately, at markets or auctions) without a valid passport.

A passport cannot be issed at auctions or the premises of sale.  It is also illegal to move a horse without a valid passport except for emergency medicinal treatment.

When buying a horse should I check the passport?

Yes, and make sure that it belongs to the horse that you are buying.  This can be done by checking that the identification matches the horse.  Also make sure that it is valid, i.e. up to date with the medicinal treatment/human consumption section.

It is the reponsibility of the new owner to update the Passport Issuing Organisation with new ownership details.  It is an offence if this is not done within 30 days of new ownership.

If my horse is kept at livery, who should keep hold of the passport?

If a horse is kept with a "keeper", i.e. someone with primary care responsibilites (full livery yards, riding schools, racing/eventing yards), it is the keeper's responsibility to make sure the horse has a passport and can be correctly identified before accepting them into their care.  A keeper can commit an offecnce if:

• The keeper has an unidentified horse on their premises.
• The keeper applies for a passport as this can only be done by the owner.
• The horse is transported off the premises or to slaughter without the passport.
• The keeper defaces, alters or damages the passport or knowingly has a forged passport.

When does my passport need to be available for examination?

At all times except:

• When stabled or on pasture and the passport can be produced without delay.
• When the horse is moved temporarily on foot in the vicinity of the holding and passport can be produced within three hours.
• When move between summer and winter grazing by foot.
• When participating in training or test of an equestrian competition which required them to leave the event venue.
• When moved or transported under emergency conditions.

What is the purpose of having a passport?

The purpose of passports across the EU is to prevent certain medicines entering the human food chain and to help identify a horse, i.e. to help prevent theft.

I've signed the "not intended for human consumption" section, what does this mean?

Because your horse has been declared not for human consumption by signing Part II of the Medicinal Treatmetn Section IX, your horse can be given any drug that they require from your veterinary surgeon.  The only drugs that have to be recorded by law are any type of vaccination.  Once Part II is signed it cannot be reversed.

My horse's passport has been signed "intended for human consumption", what does this mean?

This means that Part IIIa of the Medicinal Treatment Section IX has been signed so this animal is limited to what drugs can be given as they are going to enter the human food chain. Some drugs are prohibited altogether (including "bute"), others have a minimum withdrawal period of 6 months before the horse can go for human consumption.  If any of these drugs ar given after Part IIIa is signed, they must be listed in Section IIIb.

If the owner changes their mind and no longer wants the horse to go for human consumption, then Part II can be signed and any drug can be given to the animal.

I have bought a horse recently that has two passports. What should I do?

By law, a horse may only have one passport issued.  If your horse has two then one will need to be returned to the issuer.  Make sure that the human consumption section is filled in.  If once passport is signed NOT for human consumption and the other is signed FOR human consumption then you must presume that is may have been given a drug from the prohibited substances list.  Therefore both passports must be signed NOT for human consumption.  Any passports re-issued from a PIO will automatically be signed "not for human consumption".

What happens to my horse's passport when it has died?

The passport will need to be sent back to the PIO for their records to be updated.  If you would like it back you must let them know and they will add a page stating the horse is deceased.

What is the National Equine Database?

The National Equine Database or NED has been set up by the Government and works in collaboration with the equine industry in order to establish a database that will record details of every horse issued with a passport.

Every passport application that has been applied for since 2008 and every microchip that has been implanted since 2009 are registered with a PIO who then in turn pass on all the information to the NED.

It provides many sections of information from breeding to competition records of each horse. 

If you have lost your passport and can't remember who issued it, by logging on to the NED website and giving a few of your horse's details you can find out who issued the original passport and you are then able to contact them to issue a duplicate.  There are many benefits to using this site.  To find out more log on to www.nedonline.co.uk

Do New Forest ponies that are kept on the forest have to have passports?

New Forest ponies that are semi-feral, i.e. turned out on the forest, do not have to have a passport while they are in the designated area of the New Forest.  Pure-bred New forest ponies have to be registered with the New Forest and Breeding and Cattle Society and be issued with a registration document and an identication sketch filled in.

Foals have to be registered by 31st December of the year of their birth.  None pure-bred ponies that are run on the forest but unable to be registered with the NFPBCS have to be registered on the Verderer's list.

If a pony is sold at Beaulieu Road sales or  move off the designated area, a passport must be applied for.  At the sales, each pony is marked with a sticker that has the sale date on and an identification number.

The vendor will complete an application for a passport and identification sticker will also be noted.  This form will then accompany the pony,

The purchaser must take the pony to a holding destination outside the New Forest and a passport will have to be applied for within 30 days of ownership.  A veterinary surgeon who is emplyed by the New Forest Livestock Society is present at the sales and can microchip the pony.  This will be done free of charge at the sales with EU funding.  If it is carried out after the sales the purchaser will be charged a small fee by their vet.  Failure to apply for a passport at this time is an offence and pony must not be moved from the destination until the new passport has been received.

A foal may be moved for slaughter within 7 days of sale so long as the identification sticker with the sale date is still attached to the foal.  After the 7 days a passport and micrchip have to be applied for.

If a pony changes ownership from one commoner to another and stays on the forest, no microchip is required.

If the pony is sold and taken off the forest then the breeder is responsible for getting the passport and have a microchip implanted before the pony changes hands.