THE British Equestrian Federation this week said that despite the ongoing political uncertainty at Westminister, the horse world has been working closely together over the equine transport implications when the UK leaves the EU on March 29th next.

In a statement, BEF said that leaders from horse sport, racing, veterinary, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have been developing plans for what needs to be done if the UK leaves with no deal.

Meanwhile the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed to The Irish Field that it is working on upgrading and extending Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) in the face of a no-deal Brext.

Chief executive of the British Equestrian Federation, Nick Fellows said: “The terms of the UK’s departure from the EU have not yet been confirmed but, given the serious implications for equestrian sport, we have been working closely with the relevant authorities. As soon as the situation becomes clearer, the BEF will inform its members so that horse owners will be aware of actions they may need to take.”

The chief concern for horse owners will be transportation.

BEF’s focus has been on the following areas:

  • All horses leaving the UK to enter the EU will need a new type of Export Health Certificate (EHC) which would require blood tests signed off by an Official Veterinarian (OV) to confirm it is free from disease. EHCs would last 10 days and would accompany the horse and its horse passport. Requirements for movements to the rest of the world remain largely unchanged.
  • Developing a new type of Equine Travel ID Document. This would be needed, as well as a horse passport, for horses which do not have studbook passports or are not registered with an international body which governs sport or racing (such as the FEI)
  • Given increased demand, ensuring there will be enough Official Veterinarians and other experts and specialists, to carry out health inspections, blood tests and produce EHCs
  • Submitting evidence to the EU about the UK’s health status so that the UK can be granted a Third Country status/category. This will determine the extent of the blood tests required by horses before moving
  • The effect on transport authorisations, certificates of competence and vehicle approval certificates
  • The extent of probable delays at channel crossing points (Channel Tunnel and ferry ports) and the need for more Border Inspection Posts both in the UK and the EU, because of requirements to check horse identity and health certificates
  • Tariffs on permanent horse movements
  • A system to take over from the EU’s movements recording database (TRACES) to enable the UK to keep its own horse movement records
  • Mutual recognition of EU and UK studbooks to preserve their registered horses’ ability to travel without the additional Equine Travel ID Document
  • Availability and recognition of veterinary medicines

    • DOA STATEMENT

    In response to press queries from The Irish Field to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, over the status of the Tripartite Agreement (TPA) and what, if any, contingency plans they had for the movement of horses in a no-deal Brexit scenario, a Department spokesperson replied: “As part of its preparedness for Brexit, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is planning to upgrade existing BIPs [border inspection posts] and develop additional BIPs as required in order to cater for controls that UK trade will be subjected to post Brexit, and these plans include horses.”