THE Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir, has announced the mandatory registration of equine establishments before February 1st, 2026.

From that date, all Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs) authorised by DAERA will require a valid Equine Establishment Number (EEN) to be provided when an application is made for a passport, a passport update (such as change of ownership), or a duplicate or replacement passport in the event of lost, stolen or damaged passports. Keepers may be unable to buy, sell, move or export an equine without a valid, up to date passport.

The legal requirement was introduced under the EU Animal Health Law, Regulation (EU) 2016/429, which came into effect in April 2021, and is one of a number of measures aimed at helping to improve equine identification and traceability within the sector.

Minister Muir said: “This is an essential first step towards introducing a robust equine traceability system in Northern Ireland. It is essential that we all work together to protect our equine animals and support the industry at all levels in Northern Ireland.

“Those of us who care about our equine companions want to do the right thing and protect them from exploitation and harm.

“This is the first of a number of equine traceability measures which I plan to implement under Animal Health Law in the time ahead.”

Under EU Animal Health Law this applies to anyone who has responsibility for an establishment where equines are kept, even a private owner of a single equine kept at their own home, must register. Anyone keeping an equine at livery or at an establishment which they do not operate themselves, will not need to register. It is the responsibility of the owner/operator of the establishment to register.

Owners should be certain that the establishment where they keep their equine is registered and will need to provide the EEN of that establishment when applying for a horse passport or applying to update a horse passport.