Horse passports in England and Wales
All horses and ponies (and other forms of equidae) need to have a passport identifying the animal. For any application for a passport received after 1st July, the horse must be microchipped.
Owners of foals need to obtain a passport for it on or before 31st December of the year of its birth, or by six months after its birth, whichever is later. Owners of older horses who have yet to apply for a horse passport should do so immediately.
Horse passports are issued by a variety of organsations in the UK. Consult our list and then contact the most appropriate organisation.
For further information call: Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77
Email: horse.passports@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Latest news
1 July 2009 – New commission regulation regarding Equine Identification comes into force. Domestic legislation to enforce the new regulation will be in place by 1st August. For further details see Horse passports - why you need them and what they contain : Directgov - Home and community
1 June 2009 – The summary of responses received, to our consultation on the implementation of Commission Regulation 504/2008 as regards the methods for the identification of Equidae, has been published.
The Summary of Responses document, and details of the consultation, can be found on our consultation page. Printed copies of all consultation documents are available, on request, from the Horse passports team.
14 April 2009 - After over 5 years of operation, Richard J Steel (Horse Passports) Limited have decided to cease operating as a UK passport-issuing organisation (PIO) with immediate effect. In real terms this means that they will no longer issue nor update horse passports. We would like to remind horse owners that have Richard J Steel passports that their passports are still valid and will remain so for the animal’s life.
From this point the administration of Richard J Steel passports will be carried out by the Donkey Breed Society. Horse owners that have Richard J Steel passports should contact them when transferring ownership or otherwise amending the details within the passport. Their contact details are:
Rosemary Clarke
Passports Registrar
Donkey Breed Society
Bryncelyn
Llanfyllin
Powys
SY22 5NE
Telephone: 01691 648168
E-mail: ros11e@btinternet.com
www.donkeybreedsociety.co.uk
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all at Richard J Steel (Horse Passports) Limited for their assistance in the implementation of the horse passports legislation and wish them the best for the future.
7 March 2008 - Information bulletin: Microchipping of foals – agreement reached on new rules covering the identification of equiade.
2 February 2009 - Consultation: The consultation is now closed. Late responses shall not be considered during the production of the Summary of Responses document, which we shall be publishing as required by Government practices on the conducting of public consultations,. However, we will be considering the views expressed in all responses to the consultation when developing policy further. We were asking for your views on the Public Consultation on the implementation of Commission Regulation 504/2008 as regards the methods for the identification of Equidae.
The details of our proposals can be found on our consultation page as will our Summary of Responses document, once it is published. Printed copies are still available, on request, from the Horse passports team.
Further information
- Medicines and your horse (link to Veterinary Medicines Directorate website)
- National Equine Database information and the minutes of the shadow National Equine Database Board meetings
- Gateway to equine issues in Government - Information on Government equine policy and the horse industry.
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Page last modified: 1 July, 2009