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Public Consultation on the implementation of Commission Regulation 504/2008 as regards the methods for the identification of Equidae

The consultation is now closed.

The purpose of this consultation was to seek views on the domestic implementation of Commission Regulation (EC) 504/2008 of 6 June 2008.

The main provision of the new Commission Regulation is the strengthening of the link between the horse and the information on its medical treatment stored on its passport to reduce the risk of unsuitable horses entering the food chain. This will be achieved by means of an implanted microchip containing a unique identification number.  Microchips will be mandatory for foals born after 1 July 2009, and older animals if not previously registered.

This consultation covers England only – the Welsh Assembly Government will be responsible for implementing the Regulation in Wales, the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department in Scotland and the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland.

The Commission Regulation is directly applicable in all EU Member States. It will be complemented by domestic Regulations which are required to define offences, penalties, derogations and some additional provisions necessary to implement the Commission Regulation in England.

Comments were invited on the proposals we outlined:

The closing date for the consultation was noon on 2 February 2009.

Note: Due to the disruption to British business over Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd February caused by the adverse weather conditions, we accepted all responses received by noon on Wednesday 4th February 2009.

We have produced a document summarising the responses we received to the consultation.

Further information

Livestock movements, identification and tracing: horse tracing and identification

Page modified: 1 June 2009
Page published: 28 February 2008