The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Simon Coveney TD, has signed into law, a new order to require anyone who is the owner/person in charge of any premises in which horses or other equines (such as donkeys, ponies, zebras etc) are kept to register their premises with the Department. This Order completes the Department’s long held ambition to have a full register of premises on which all farmed animals are kept. Currently premises where cattle, sheep, pigs or poultry are kept must be registered.
The Minister explained that the purpose of registration is simply to ensure that the Department has a full picture of where horses are located, so that it can alert owners quickly in the event of a contagious disease outbreak, quickly implement disease control measures and also give advice on appropriate precautionary, containment and control measures as soon as possible.
This legislation applies to all premises where horses and other equines, regardless of their number or age, are kept and complements the recently enforced EU requirement that all horses, ponies and donkeys born after 1 July 2009 have passports with a corresponding microchip/transponder and a universal equine life number (UELN).
The owners/persons in charge of premises where horses are kept will be required to maintain records to assist the Department in tracing horses, should a disease outbreak occur. The scale of record keeping required depends on the premises. For example, premises where horses are kept on a temporary basis (studs, shows, sales, farriers, vets etc) must record the date, UELN, name and premises of origin ID of the animals brought onto their premises. Premises where there is permanent residency would be required to maintain records of ‘permanent’ movements off the premises of any resident equine being transferred to another premises on a permanent basis or similarly permanent movements onto the premises – to include date, UELN and premises ID to/from which the equine has moved.
Minister Coveney said he was looking forward to full co-operation in the new registration process. It represented a very important step in maintaining our excellent record in equine health and further enhance our record as a top producer in both the thoroughbred and horse sport sectors.
Registration is through the local Department Office. Application forms on which to register may be obtained from the local Department office or from the Department’s Animal Health Division, tel. 01 6072466 or from the Department’s website:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is an equine premises?
A. This means any premises (with or without land) in which a horse, ass , mule, pony etc. is kept either on a full-time ‘permanent’ basis (farms etc) or on a temporary/transient basis (shows/ veterinary clinics/farriers/ sales etc. )
Q. What is the purpose of registration?
A. The reason for registering and record keeping is so as to enable the Department to have information on the location of horses and their contacts with other horses in order that in the event of a disease outbreak, owners can be alerted and advised of any necessary precautions. A disease outbreak (such as Equine Infectious Anemia)in the national equine herd could have a catastrophic effect on the national equine industry which makes a major contribution to the national economy. By registering your location with the Department, you are making your contribution to protecting the national equine herd.
Q. Who must register?
A. Anyone who owns or has charge of an equine premises regardless of whether he or she owns the equines.
Q. What are the consequences if I decide not to register?
A. From 1 May 2012, it will be against the law to keep a horse (or other equine) on a premises that is not registered with the Department.
Q. What responsibilities does a registered person have?
A. Registered persons must keep records of the equines on the premises and the movement of equines off and on to the premises. The scale of record keeping will depend on the nature of the business at the premises. For example, owners of premises where a pet pony is kept will simply have to keep a record of the pony initially. Thereafter, any births and purchases /deaths and sales (or other permanent movements off or on to the premises)will need to be recorded.
Persons in charge of stud farms/shows/sales (where animals are temporarily held) will have to keep records of the dates of movement on/off and UEL (unique equine label) of the horse involved. The premises registration number , owner name and address of the horse’s premises of origin or destination will also need to be recorded. It is already common practice on these types of premises to keep this kind of information. There will also be a requirement to provide information to the Department by way of a census of animals carried out from time to time.
As soon as a premises is registered, it will be given a registration number and information as to what type of records are required for the premises.
Q. My horses are all identified with a microchip and horse passports. Is this not enough?
A. No. These are separate systems. The horse passport regime is an animal identification system rather than a movement system. The Premises registration concerns the location at which equines are kept and records in respect of horses on those premises.
Q. I was registered with an equine herd previously. Do I have to make a new application?
A. The Department will write to all previously registered equine herd owners before 1 May to enclose an application form and details of any new requirements that affect them.
Q. I have a bovine herd no. Will I get a different herd number for horses?
A. No, unless the nominated equine keeper is different from the person who is registered as keeper for the bovine herd. In all cases, you should complete the application form indicating that you are already registered with a bovine herd number and indicate the relevant keeper and the number and purpose for which you keep horses. If the nominated keeper is the same as for the existing bovine herd, your herd registration will be updated to include equines. If you nominate a different keeper, a new herd number will be issued in respect of the equines.
Further info on www.agriculture.ie
