All foals to be microchipped

Equine Identification (Horse Passport) legislation is to be revised following agreement by EU Member States. The main new requirement is the compulsory microchipping of foals born after July 2009.

Many sectors of the equine industry agree that microchips provide an essential link between a horse and its passport. Microchips and equine passports together may assist disease control and surveillance as well as in the recovery of lost or stolen horses.

Microchipping foals has been compulsory in the Thoroughbred breeding industry since 1999. Proposals for compulsory microchipping all horses has been debated for several years, with many arguing that passports would only work when used with permanent equine identifcation.

The new regulation will not require older horses to be microchipped. It will also allow EU Member States to approve alternatives to microchipping.

Defra will be consulting fully with the horse industry over the implementation of the new requirements.

18/03/2008 10:48:01