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In Scotland the Horse Passport Regulations came into force on 16th of May 2005. These regulations apply to horses, ponies, donkeys and other equidae and state that owners cannot sell, export, slaughter for human consumption, use for breeding or competition any of the animals covered without a valid horse passport.

Owners may opbtain a horse passport from several authorised Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs). A list of these can be found on the DEFRA website (www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/id-move/horses/index.htm).

For more in depth information please also refer to the defra passport questions and answers page.

 

Who enforces these regulations?

The Meat Hygiene Service will carry out checks at slaughterhouses to ensure horse passports are available for relevant animals, and local authorities will enforce the regulations elsewhere.

Offences can carry a fine up to £5000, or a two year prison term, or even both.

 

Does my horse need a passport?

All foals must be issued with a horse passport by 31st December in the year of its birth or by 6 months of age (whichever is later). Foals accompanying their dams to shows, studs or competitions will be covered by the passports for the dams if they havent received their own passports yet.

Horses currently without a passport need to have one and if this falls past the 1st July 2009 then they need to be microchipped also.

 

What do I do if I lose my horse passport?

PIOs will issue a replacement horse passport on request which will be stamped as such and will state that the horse cannot be slaughtered for human consumption. There may be a charge for this.