POINT-to-point committees in Northern Ireland were given an insight into what may lie ahead for them in the event of a no-deal Brexit, following a briefing that was held at the Stormont Estate last week to update them on the ramifications of such an event.

Since the DUP and Sinn Fein led devolved executive within Northern Ireland collapsed in January 2017 following the Renewable Heating Incentive scandal, the region has been without local government, leaving civil servants to manage their Brexit preparations.

It was those civil servants from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Belfast, who briefed those in attendance, which included a deputation representing the region’s point-to-point committees, about what would be required following a no-deal Brexit.

If the UK was to leave the European Union in the coming weeks without a deal, the UK would no longer be a party to the Tripartite Agreement, resulting in changes to the way that horses are moved from the EU to the UK, and consequently, for those in the room, an impact on those equestrian events where horse movements across the Irish border currently occur.

Those in attendance, which also included representatives of Downpatrick and Down Royal Racecourses, alongside other equestrian associations in the region, were told that while there were no anticipated changes to the way horses are currently moved from EU member states, including the Republic of Ireland, to events in the UK, an export health certificate completed by an authorised veterinary inspector would be required to facilitate the move back to the EU member state of origin.

For the case of northern point-to-points, an authorised veterinary inspector would have to complete an export health certificate, to permit all Republic of Ireland-trained horses in attendance to be moved back across the border.

REQUIRMENTS

According to the DAERA website, there are currently 82 equine approved AVI veterinary practices, and event organisers were informed to make contact with one of these local practices, as they will be required to be in attendance on the day.

This is one of the first additional requirements that will fall on Northern Irish point-to-point committees in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

They will also be required to register the lands on which the point-to-point takes place as a registered equine premises, as they were informed that export health certificates could only be completed by authorised veterinary inspectors at events taking place on a registered equine premise.

DAERA would also require horses from both jurisdictions to be segregated while at a point-to-point in the region, with horses that will be returning to Ireland at the end of the event, having to be accommodated under supervision, separately from all others horses in an export isolation facility, except when competing in a race.

This must be at least three metres away from where the Northern Irish-based horses would be kept before and after their race, with a range of disinfectant and cross-contamination measures also being laid out to the organisers.

The department officials also briefed organisers on the measures point-to-point handlers would also have to take in advance of running a horses in Northern Ireland following a no-deal Brexit.

After entering their horses for a point-to-point in Northern Ireland, handlers would have to apply for a European Health Certificate on the DAERA website, alongside an owners’ declaration.

This would describe the identity of their horse and the date the horse would be moved to Northern Ireland to enable certification.

Of most concern to the organisers of point-to-point committees in Northern Ireland, would be the difficulties that south of Ireland-based handlers would face trying to get their horses back across the border following the race meeting.

In the event of a no-deal Brexit, horses being moved from outside of the EU into the Republic of Ireland, would need to enter via a border inspection post, of which an additional two are being prepared at Dublin and Rosslare ports, to operate alongside the existing inspection posts for equines at Dublin and Shannon Airports.

None of these is feasible for connections returning by road across the border from a point-to-point in Northern Ireland.

The loss of southern Irish-based horses to point-to-point committees in the north would be significant. At last week’s Route point-to-point in Portrush, half of the 121 horses that were entered came from horses trained south of the border.

It was an even greater proportion for today’s Iveagh meeting in Moira, where just 37 of the 93 entries were made for horses trained in Northern Ireland.

The financial implications of a no-deal Brexit for those in the region are stark.