RE-HOMING

  • Irish Horse Re-homing Programme: 086 0266650, info@ihrp.ie
  • The Irish Horse Welfare Trust: 0402 30773, info@ihwt.ie
  • The ISPCA Equine Rescue Centre: 022 43218, mallow@ispca.ie

    • SLAUGHTER

  • Horses suitable for slaughter for human consumption must have a passport compliant with current veterinary requirements.
  • Under EU Legislation, animals not registered within six months of their birth will be permanently excluded from the food chain.
  • Similarly, where foals are sent to slaughter, they must have been registered for a period of at least six months before they are allowed to enter the food chain.
  • Where an animal is issued a duplicate passport they will be permanently excluded from the food chain and the duplicate passport stamped to reflect this.
  • There are currently only two approved meat export plants on the island of Ireland (one in the Republic and one in Northern Ireland) licensed to supply horse meat for human consumption.

    • For more information please go to the Food safety Authority of Ireland website fsai.ie.

    KNACKERIES

  • In the Republic of Ireland, knackeries are licensed to collect horse carcases not for human consumption either directly or indirectly via licensed sub-contractors.
  • There are 40 approved knackeries of which 24 have collection centres.

    • For more information please go to the Department of Agriculture website agriculture.gov.ie.