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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 22nd April 2021
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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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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.