Changes to horse travel welcomed by equine sector
Changes to horse travel requirements between the UK, France and Ireland have been applauded by the equine sector as "one door shut to equine disease".
The previously controversial Tripartite Agreement (TPA) has long been a cause for concern as it allowed free movement of horses between the UK, Ireland and France without health checks.
David Mountford of the BEVA said: "Equine veterinarians were very concerned about the risks posed by so many horses travelling between countries without health checks. It was a disaster waiting to happen so this change is great news."
As of May 2014, however, this ease of movement will apply only to "high health" horses, including thoroughbred racehorses, breeding stock and FEI sport horses travelling to and from France.
All other horses moved between the two countries will be required to travel with a health certificate issued by a veterinary surgeon, following the normal rules of moving between EU countries.
Due to the shared health status of the UK and Ireland, movement of horses between these two islands will remain unchanged.
Welcoming the news, Roly Owers of World Horse Welfare said: "This change was badly needed and had been long called for by World Horse Welfare and the wider sector.
"Quite simply the previous TPA was an open door for equine disease to enter the UK, and there was evidence it was being used to transport vulnerable horses and ponies of a low value between the three countries, sometimes as cover for other illegal activities.
"This decision, if effectively enforced, will help to prevent the spread of disease and protect thousands of vulnerable horses and ponies from totally unnecessary journeys each year."
Louise Kemble of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association applauded Defra for closely involving the equine industry in the process, adding: "We now have a TPA that will serve its original purpose: to allow the free movement of high health horses to competition and breeding."
Concluding, David Mountford said: "The focus now needs to be on the effective implementation of the revised agreement and to communicate this to vets and horse owners across the country."
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
