Britain Weighing Horse Travel Requirements With No Deal Brexit
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Jan. 24, 2019
With two months to go to the scheduled Brexit, British sport officials are working with the government and veterinarians on what could be a web of new requirements for getting horses into and out of Europe.
Transportation will be “the chief concern” for horse owners, the British Equestrian Federation reported Thursday in outlining efforts to deal with the Brexit deadline of Mar. 29 if no deal is reached beforehand. Under current European Union rules, movement of horses from Britain into and out of the continent is relatively easy.
The BEF said its focus has been on:
–All horses leaving the United Kingdom to enter the European Union 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 stay with 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 that 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 horse racing, such as the FEI, the International Equestrian Federation.
–Ensuring there will be enough Official Veterinarians and other experts and specialists, to carry out an increased number health inspections, blood tests and produce EHCs.
–Submitting evidence to the European Union 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 authorizations, certificates of competence and vehicle approval certificates.
–The extent of probable delays at English Channel crossing points such as the 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 European and UK studbooks to preserve registered horses’ ability to travel without additional Equine Travel ID Document.
–Availability and recognition of veterinary medicines.
