International trade: Equidae - Frequently asked questions
What do I do to move equidae from UK to other EU Member States?
Obtain an ITAHC (Intra-Trade Animal Health Certificate) from your Animal Health Divisional Office to accompany registered horses, equidae for breeding and production and slaughter (except registered horses and equidae for breeding and production France, UK and Ireland). An Official Veterinarian (OV) also known as Local Veterinary Inspector (LVI) is required to examine the animals 48 hours prior to export to ensure that animals are fit to travel and that they show no clinical sign of disease.
A Horse or Pony Export Welfare Licence must be obtained from either Defra, The Scottish Government or the Welsh Assembly Government – depending upon the port or airport of departure – before travel. This does not apply to horses (only) being exported to the Republic of Ireland. Thoroughbred horses certified by the Jockey Club and which are being exported for the purpose of being run in a race, training or to be used for breeding are exempt from licensing altogether.
What are equidae?
Equidae include horses, ponies, donkeys, asses, zebras and mules.
For the purposes of the Export Welfare Licences, horses are defined as equidae over 14.2 hands/148cms and above, with ponies under and including 14.2 hands/ 147cms.
Do I need an ITAHC to move horses/equidae from the UK to France or the Republic of Ireland?
No, registered horses and equidae for breeding and production moving between these countries do not require a health certificate or clinical inspection (except horses for slaughter). Animals must be accompanied by a passport or an identity document issued by a breeding authority or any other competent authority which manages the studbook register for that breed of animal in the country of origin; or any international association or organisation which manages horses for competition or racing.
Ponies, however, travelling to France or the Republic of Ireland must be inspected by an official veterinarian and certified in writing as fit to travel.
What is the Tripartite Agreement?
The ‘Tripartite Agreement’ is an agreement established under Article 6 of Directive 90/426/EEC, defining the animal health conditions for movements between signatory countries, namely the UK, France and Ireland. This agreement allows registered horses and equidae for breeding and production accompanied by a valid passport to be moved between those countries without the need for an ITAHC. Horses for slaughter must be accompanied by a passport and an ITAHC issued by TRACES.
Equidae other than registered equidae must be accompanied by a Journey Log in addition to the above requirements when required under Regulation 1/2005.
Can registered horses re-enter the UK from other Member States?
Yes, if they are accompanied by a valid passport, signed Annex B attestation or a valid ITAHC (except for France and Republic of Ireland as signatories to Tripartite Agreement who do not need certificate).
Which documents are required in order to obtain an Export Licence?
You will need to submit an export welfare licence application form to either Defra, The Scottish Government or the Welsh Assembly Government giving details of the horses/ponies, the countries of transit and destination, name and address of exporter and final destination. Applications for an export welfare licence for ponies must be accompanied by proof that the pony meets the minimum value levels by way of a bill of sale, insurance or similar documents, or a Minimum Value Certificate from an approved valuer or breed society judge.
How many horses/ponies does a single Export Welfare Licence cover?
A single Export Welfare Licence can include up to 16 horses or 16 ponies.
How many days do I have to export the animals once the Licence is issued?
10 days from the date the health certificate is signed by the OV.
For the Export Welfare Licence, 30 days from the proposed date of export.
Who is an Official Veterinarian/Local Veterinary Inspector (OV/LVI)?
An OV/LVI is a private veterinary surgeon employed by the local Divisional Veterinary Manager at the Animal Health Divisional Office (AHDO) who has authority to carry out work to certify certain export health certificates.
How do I get a list of Official Veterinarians (OVs) in my area?
Contact your local Animal Health Divisional Office (AHDO) who have a list of locally registered OVs.
Can Foals travel to other Member States of European Union on their dam’s export health certificate?
Suckling foals may be referred to on the dam’s (mare) export health certificate, which must be endorsed with the words “suckling foal at foot”, with age, sex and description of foal. Foals more than six months old are required to be exported on their own export health certificate.
Do horses moved from UK to other Member States need to be accompanied by a cleansing and disinfection certificate?
No, however, exporters must ensure that the vehicles used for transporting horses are cleansed and disinfected after use in accordance with the requirements of the Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (England) No. 2 Order 2000 (as amended).
What do I do to export a horse to a non-member state of the European Union (known as a ‘third country’)?
Contact your local Animal Health Divisional Office (AHDO) and ask if an appropriate export health certificate (EHC) is available. If an agreed EHC is available, exporters are advised to request a specimen copy. This will enable the exporter to confirm that the EHC is suitable for his/her proposed export and that he/she can meet the required conditions. The exporter should then complete and submit an EHC application form to the AHDO for processing. Please note that the application process takes 10 working days and the AHDO will need plenty of notice to ensure they have all the relevant information to carry out the processing before the EHC is issued to your nominated Official Veterinarian.
Note: Exporters have the responsibility for complying with import conditions of the receiving country in addition to any transit country the animal travel through. Therefore we strongly recommend that exporters contact the veterinary authorities of any transit/destination country and obtain their current import health conditions. Exporters should contact their local AHDO in the first instance on import conditions queries.
Where can I get a list of agents who deal with the import/export of animals?
Defra do have a list of agents but we don’t send it out because it is not completely exhaustive. Customers are advised to check the Internet and/or the ‘Yellow Pages’ for agents who deal in the trade of live animals.
How much will it cost to export a horse?
Defra do not have that kind of information. However, the costs to bear in mind include costs for any tests and treatments (e.g. external parasites) required by the import conditions, transport costs including flights etc. and any post-import tests or quarantine (if applicable). Defra do not charge for the issue of export health certificates but the nominated Official Veterinarian will charge for any services carried out – an Official Veterinarian’s costs may vary and will be related to any work they carry out.
Who can advise on matters relating to Customs?
Defra cannot advise on issues relating to Customs. For information please telephone the Customs help line on 0845 010 9000.
Is there a list of Defra approved isolation premises?
No, but exporters are advised to contact their local Animal Health Divisional Office (AHDO) to see if they have approved isolation premises in the area.
Alternatively, exporters can find a premises/stable and ask an Official Veterinarian for approval prior to the start of any pre-export isolation. Certain conditions must be met for the premises to be approved for pre-export isolation. The conditions are normally listed in the Notes for Guidance (NFG), which are issued by Defra together with the relevant export health certificate (EHC).
Page last modified:
23 May, 2008
Page published: 1 June, 2006