Equine Passport Legislation

Transfers of Ownership


The horse passport does not constitute proof of ownership of the horse. However, it is a requirement under the Horse Passport (England) Legislation to register a change of ownership with the relevant PIO within 30 days of acquiring a horse. The issuing PIO may require a completed transfer form and fees. There is no exemption for dealers that sell a horse within 30 days of purchasing it.

It is an offense to sell a horse without a passport. Sale of any horse should not be completed if the passport has not been provided. The passport must match the horse in question. If the purchaser does not receive the horse’s passport, they will also be committing an offence when transporting the horse to its new home.

For details about how to transfer a pony and the forms to use, please see the Transfer of Ownership page.

Late Passports


Passports may still be acquired for horses older than the passport deadline, provided there is no existing passport for the animal. Applications should be made to the appropriate PIO for the breed of the horse and should include appropriate checks and fees. Before the passport is issued to the owner, the issuing PIO will sign Part II of Section II to permanently exclude the horse from the human food chain.

Duplicate Passports


If the passport is lost, a duplicate may be requested from the original PIO. On receipt of appropriate fees and checks, a duplicate passport may be issued, in which case Part II of Section II will have been signed by the PIO, to permanently exclude the animal from the human food chain. The duplicate passport will be stamped as a duplicate, and should the original passport ever be found, it must be returned to the issuing PIO immediately.

Return of the Passport


In the event of the death of any horse, the passport must be returned to the issuing PIO for cancellation within 30 days of the death. Owners may request the return of a passport following cancellation. Any such returned passport will be clearly stamped 'invalid' to prevent any fraudulent use. Where a horse is sold to a slaughterhouse, the occupier of the slaughterhouse will give the passport to the official veterinary surgeon who will return it to the PIO concerned directly.

 

Legal Responsibilities of Owners in relation to Equine Passports


Please read the following information carefully and thoroughly as it applies to all owners of equines.

It is a legal requirement for all horses and ponies to be issued with a passport. Horse Passport law is governed by the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/262, and in England by the Equine Identification (England) Regulations 2018 (SI 2018/761), and where applicable, any subsequent amendments or successors to these regulations. Passports are required throughout the EU for identification, effective disease control and in order to protect the human food chain.

Owners and keepers with primary responsibility must ensure their horses are correctly identified and be able to produce the passport without delay when required. All horses, ponies, donkeys and other equidae are required to have a passport from 6 months of age, or by 30 November in the year of their birth, whichever is the later.

A horse's passport must be kept with him at all times. This includes any time the horse leaves the yard, such as to go to a show, on loan or away for schooling. It is illegal to travel a horse without their passport, unless they are being transported for emergency veterinary treatment. The passport must be produced within three hours of it being requested by enforcement agencies. The passport may be requested at any time but the most common situations where a horse's passport will be requested include:

  • when the animal is moved into or out of Great Britain
  • when the animal is used at a competition
  • when the animal is moved to new premises
  • when the animal is presented at a slaughterhouse for slaughter
  • when the animal is sold or simply handed over to a new owner
  • when the animal is used for breeding purposes.

The passport must accompany the horse at all times, except:

  • when stabled or on pasture and the passport can be produced without delay
  • when it is moved temporarily on foot in the vicinity of the holding and the passport can be produced without delay
  • when it is moved on foot between summer and winter grazing and the passport can be presented at the holding of departure
  • un-weaned and accompanied by its dam or foster mare
  • when it is participating in training or competition which requires them to leave the event venue
  • when moved or transported under emergency conditions.

Vets will require the passport when prescribing many common veterinary medicines, (for example "Bute") and will ensure the horse in question is then permanently excluded from the human food chain by signing Part II of Section II or pre-2016 Section IX of the passport.

The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) is responsible for enforcing the checks carried out at slaughterhouses, and Local Authorities (Trading Standards Departments) are responsible for enforcing the law elsewhere. As with all government legislation, there are penalties that may be applied by the courts for non-compliance. Most offences have a fine of up to £5,000, two years' imprisonment or both. (cont)

Applications for equine passports can only be accepted for micro-chipped animals and the owner or keeper must ensure that the equine does not already have an existing passport. When the passport is received, it should be carefully checked to ensure all the details are correct, and then signed where required on the owner's page.

No animal may have more than one passport. Passports are the property of the Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO) and the passport must be returned to the issuing PIO:

  • If the animal changes ownership (including dealers) (within 30 days)
  • If any alterations are required (for example: owner change of address, update of adult colour, castration)
  • If any other details have changed( for example: eligibility for slaughter for human consumption)
  • If the microchip code has changed. Reminder: Owners are required to ensure that all equines born before 1 July 2009 are microchipped by 1 October 2020
  • If a Vet has completed and signed Part II of Section II or Pre-2016 Section IX (within 14 days)
  • If extra pages are required for vaccination records, etc
  • If the document is damaged
  • When the animal dies or is lost (within 30 days).

Other Legislation

Non-discrimination between members


In order to comply with zootechnical legislation, the Dales Pony Society declares that it does not discriminate between members.

The Data Protection Act


Under the terms of the Data Protection Act the Society has a responsibility to inform data subjects (pony owners) about the intention to collect data (which includes personal information relating to a pony owner's name and address) and how that data will be used. Information supplied in connection with your application and other horse passport based information about horse and owner is held in order for the Society to carry out its mandatory requirements as a passport issuing organisation. From time to time the Society is required to make such information available to Defra and recognised enforcement authorities in order that they may carry out their responsibilities regarding the implementation of the horse passport legislation. The Society will also publish the data in the Dales Pony Society Stud book.

Complaints


If you have dissatisfaction or a concern in connection with the registration of ponies and the issue and ongoing management of passports, please see the Complaints and Appeals page.