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Changes to British horse exports following new EU law
UK horses will not be required to isolate before prior to exportation to EU Member States and Northern Ireland.

Existing Equine Health Certificates will remain valid until 20 August 2021

New EU Animal Health Regulations (AHR) rules came into force on Wednesday (21 April) affecting horse movements between Britain and the European mainland.

The two key changes are the extension of the current Export Health Certificates (EHCs) for horse movements until August 2021, and the removal of the proposed 30-day isolation period before transportation of horses from the United Kingdom to EU Member States (MSs) and Northern Ireland.

It comes after extensive lobbying by the specially-convened International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) Task Force, created in March 2020 to find solutions to the movement of sport horses and thoroughbreds after Brexit.

Welcoming the news, IHSC Task Force chair Dr Göran Akerström commented: “The delay in implementation of the new Export Health Certificates until August will give everyone time to put everything in place and help to minimise the delays for horses travelling between EU Member States and the UK.

"There was already a derogation from the 30-day isolation period in place for competition horses, but this has now been extended to all registered horses and will be warmly welcomed, particularly by the Thoroughbred breeding industry.”

Existing EHCs will remain valid until 20 August 2021, meaning that all current certificates can continue to be used until that time. The new EHCs must be used from 21 August 2021 onwards, but the provision requiring registration of a horse’s precise location while in the EU will be delayed until January 2022.

Horses originating from the UK that are registered with the FEI, a recognised UK organisation or studbook, will no longer need to do a 30-day pre-export isolation, but will instead need to be under veterinary supervision for 30 days. Work on the draft legal provision for digital passports is ongoing with the European Commission.

The IHSC Task Force includes Fédération Equestre Internationale, the European Equestrian Federation, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, the International Thoroughbred Breeders Federation and the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

 

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."