WHEN the clock struck midnight at December 31st 2020, the equine world on both sides of the Irish Sea woke up a whole new world in terms of the movement of horses between Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe.

Brexit kicked into place with a bang and Britain officially became a third country, forever changing our trading relationship with what has historically always been our largest trading partner. Moving horses and ponies to Britain or via Britain to Europe is not half as straightforward as it used to be.

There are different rules governing temporary admission to Britain, for registered animals entering a show or event or breeding purposes, compared to the permanent export or import of a horse or pony.

Here’s a number of key steps to do to make the process run as smoothly as it can and please make sure to always consult the Brexit section of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s (DAFM) website for all the latest updates.

Key steps:

  • Register with DAFM, Revenue, and TRACES.
  • Register with Revenue.ie to obtain your EORI number – Economic Operators’ Registration and Identification Number. If you are a trader, or simply a private person who imports/exports horses or ponies, you will need this EORI number to complete the transaction. It is valid throughout the European Union.
  • All horses, including those for slaughter, now need an Export Health Certificate (EHC) for movement from Ireland to Britain and vice versa.
  • To get an EHC, contact your nearest DAFM Regional Veterinary Office (RVO).
  • Get your own private veterinary practitioner (PVP) to give you a supplementary health certificate for the horse or pony.
  • Submit this PVP certificate to the RVO and remember there is least five days’ minimum notice required and a DAFM charge of €12.50 will apply for each horse cert issued.
  • Arrange a British-based importer only to submit advance notification to the new UK Import system.
  • Include the Unique Notification Number (UNN) issued by this system to the TRACES EHC consignment details.
  • Complete the consignment details on TRACES (Trade Control & Expert System) and submit to RVO.
  • Forward a scan of completed, signed and stamped certificate via a GB-based agent only to the GB import system.
  • Ensure that each signed EHC accompanies each horse or pony to Britain.
  • Returning to Ireland with horses and ponies, you must have the equine passport, the EHC and also the crucial CHED (Common Health Entry Document) which must accompany each horse or pony in the consignment.
  • Equine hauliers, and individuals transporting horses, will also need to check and verify the animal health requirements from Ireland to Britain and from Britain to mainland Europe.
  • Be aware of all the Border Control Posts (BCPs) on your planned equine journeys, well in advance. BCPs are operating individually with different requirements – some require booking 48 hours in advance and others do not.
  • Be aware that Calais is open for horses from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday only, and is processing approximately just three horses per hour.