Horse Passports
Legally correct June 2007
Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004 require all owners to obtain a passport for each horse they own. This includes ponies, donkeys, and other equidae but excludes zebras. After 28 February 2005, owners will not be able to sell, buy, export, slaughter for human consumption, use for the purposes of competition or breeding a horse which does not have a passport. If they have not already done so, owners of animals born before 30 November 2003 should take action now to apply for a passport so that they will not be restricted in using their horse as they wish after 28 February 2005. Horses born after 30 November 2003 will require a passport by the 31st December in the year of birth or by 6 months of age, whichever is later. Owners already holding a passport should check to make sure it is fully compliant with the new legislation.
The Government announced on 14 February 2002, that all horses and ponies (and other forms of equidae) will need to have a passport identifying the animal. It is now an offence for an owner to:
- export a horse
- use a horse for the purposes of competitions
- move a horse to the premises of a new keeper
- present for slaughter for human consumption
- sell a horse
- use a horse for breeding purposes
if the horse is not accompanied by a valid passport.
Defra is aware that many horse owners, who have applied before the deadline, have yet to receive their passports due to the backlogs that some Passport-Issuing Organisations (PIOs) are experiencing.
Local Authorities have been made aware of the backlogs and therefore, when enforcing the requirement, they will take into consideration the effort that individual horses owners have made to comply with the Regulations and whether their application has been delayed. Enforcement of the Regulations will be fair and proportionate to individual circumstances.
Horse owners who have not yet applied for a horse passport should do so immediately by contacting the most appropriate organisations that are authorised to issue horse passports in the UK after checking the Horse Passports Questions and Answers page.
For further information call: Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77
Email: horse.passports@defra.gsi.gov.uk
- The Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004 No.1397
(369 KB) - Regulatory Impact Assessment to accompany the Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004 (73 KB)
The Notes for Guidance to accompany the Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004 (95 KB) has been updated with the following addition to the ‘Guide for horse owners’ section, paragraph 6: We would advise all horse owners attending horse fairs or auctions with their horses to take the horse’s passport with them. Although, this is not a legal requirement owners will need the passport if they subsequently decide to sell their horse.
See also The Transport of Animals
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