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Horse passports in England and Wales

All horses and ponies (and other forms of equidae) need to have a passport identifying the animal. 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 (Link to the Directgov website) - Why you need them, how to get one and what they contain.

Latest news

31 July 2009 – The Horse Passports Regulations 2009, which implements Commission Regulation 504/2008, come into force on 1st August 2009. This domestic legislation enables the offences, sanctions and derogations that will apply in the UK.

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 equidae.

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. Printed copies are still available, on request, from the Horse passports team.

Further information

Page last modified: 17 November, 2009