From the end of 2003, all horses and ponies (and other equine animals) in the UK will need to have a passport identifying the animal.

DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) consulted widely on the introduction of passports in 2000 and the proposal was supported by the equine industry. The industry believe that benefits will be realised if all horses have a passport, for example discouraging the indiscriminate breeding of horses and ponies and for disease control.

All owners or keepers of equines will need to obtain a horse passport for each horse they own or keep by the end of December 2003.

Passports will last for the life time of the animal and will include a Unique Equine Life Number (see below)

A number of organisations and societies have been authorised by DEFRA to issue horse passports, including the British Driving Society.

The BDS will be issuing horse passports from the end of April 2003 and full details together with applications forms will be sent to all BDS members with their newsletter at that time. Non members may still get their passport from the BDS and will be able to apply for forms from 30 April.

for a full list of horse passport issuing organisations.

Horse Passport questions and answers

Does a Veterinary Surgeon need to complete the passport ?

The EU legislation requires the completion of a silhouette in the passport. Other forms of identification such as a microchip can be used in addition to the silhouette, but there is no legal requirement to do this. The silhouette should normally be signed either by a veterinary surgeon, or someone authorised by the society issuing the passport. The BDS has established that DEFRA will not insist on veterinary identification, so owners who do not have this can complete the identification diagram themselves.

How much will a passport cost?

Cost to BDS members will be £10 per horse. Passports will also be issued to non members at a cost of £20 per horse. The BDS passports will be similar in format to FEI passports but in black and gold with a pocket in the back for vaccinations certificates.

I have already got a passport – do I need to do anything else?

Your passport may need to be updated to include the new pages for the owner to declare whether or not the horse is ultimately intended for human consumption and, if so, for the date certain veterinary medicines administered to the horse to be recorded in the passport. The passport should be returned to the passport issuing organisation for updating.

Will I need a passport if my horse is never intended for human consumption?

Yes, all horses will need a passport irrespective of whether or not the horse is ultimately intended for human consumption. However, if the horse owner declares in the passport that the horse is not intended for human consumption, there will be no requirement to record veterinary medicines administered to the horse.

What is the Unique Equine Life Number (UELN)?

This is the number that must appear on the passport and which identifies the horse. This number will be supplied by the organisation that issues the passport.

Although the legislation introducing the format of this requirement has not yet been finalised, it is likely that the UELN will consist of 15 digits, the first six consisting of the 3 digit UK code (826) and the three digit code belonging to the Society issuing the passport. The last nine digits will be issued by the passport issuing society on issue of a passport.

Discussions with the equine industry are continuing about the implementation of this measure. The legislative changes will be made via a new Horse Passport Order. Final details of the passport requirements are still being formalised e.g. the treatment of semi-feral animals and the treatment of a horse in the absence of a passport.

Useful links (click below):

British Horse Society passport information
British Equestrian Federation horse passports