Horse Passport Legislation

The Horse Passport regulations 2009 are actively enforced by Trading Standards.

It is a legal requirement for all horses and ponies to be issued with a passport. Horse Passport law is governed by the Commission Regulation EC 504/2008 www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/1611/contents/made, and the Horse Passport regulations 2009. Horse passports are required throughout the EU for identification, effective disease control and in order to protect the human food chain.

Since 28th February 2005 it has been a legal requirement for all equidae to be issued with a passport from a DEFRA approved Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO). STAGBI is an authorised PIO and can process passport application for full bred Standardbreds, part-bred Standardbreds and non-standardbreds.

(Please note only full bred, parentally verified Standardbreds will be entered into the STAGBI Stud Book).

Equine Passport Application

The owner of an equine (horse, pony or donkey) has specific legal responsibilities under the Horse Passport Regulations 2009. Failure to comply may mean that the local authority (usually Trading Standards) takes enforcement action. The maximum penalty for each offence is £5000, two years imprisonment or both. Remember it is the responsibility of the owner to apply for a passport and that it is an offence not to have a veterinarian microchip a foal prior to applying for a passport and it is an offence to apply for a passport from an authorised Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO) after the equine is 6 months old or after the 31st of December of the year of birth whichever is the later. If a horse already has a passport it is illegal to apply for another passport.

Application for passports should be made within the statutory limit (within 6 months of birth or before 31 Dec in the year of birth, whichever is the later). In accordance to Horse Passport Regulations, STAGBI is required to report an application received outside the statutory limit.

Late Passport Application

Passports may still be acquired for horses older than the passport deadline, provided there is no existing passport for the animal. The horse must have a microchip implanted by a Veterinary Surgeon. In accordance to Horse Passport Regulations, STAGBI will stamp Section IX Part II with declaration that the horse is not intended for human consumption.

Change of Ownership

The horse passport does not constitute proof of ownership of the horse. It is a requirement under the Horse Passport Legislation to register a change of ownership with the relevant Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO) within 30 days of acquiring a horse. 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. To notify change of ownership for horses with a STAGBI issued passport, a certificate of ownership can be found in the back of the passport. Please ensure the seller and buyer have completed and signed the form and return with the appropriate fee to STAGBI. If the certificate of ownership is missing, please contact STAGBI.

In accordance to Horse Passport Regulations, STAGBI is required to report a failure of a new owner to update owner details within 30 days.

Duplicate Passports

If the original passport has been lost, it is possible to apply for a duplicate passport. The applicant should request a duplicate pack, complete and return to STAGBI. The applicant will be required to sign a declaration that the passport is lost. In accordance to Horse Passport Regulations all duplicate passport will be stamped as “duplicate” and Section IX Part II will be stamped with declaration that the equine is not intended for human consumption. Should the original be subsequently found it must be returned to STAGBI immediately.

Notification of Deceased Equines

It is an EU requirement to advise the relevant Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO) when your horse dies and return the passport to them. As per the legislation, the passport will be recorded as "void". If you wish the passport to be returned to you, please indicate this in an accompanying letter, including your full postal return details.

Key points for owners keeping an equine:

A Trading Standards or Animal Health Officer may request a passport to be produced for inspection. Failure to present a passport for inspection is an offence

  • It is an offence to obstruct an inspector who is enforcing the Horse Passport Regulations 2009.
  • The passport should accompany the animal when it moves to shows, sales, competitions and when it is sold or goes to slaughter. Failure to do so is an offence.
  • The passport is the property of the issuing Passport Issuing Organisations, in this instance STAGBI.
  • Note the number & the PIO the passport was issued by. This makes obtaining a replacement more straightforward if the original is ever damaged or lost as the passport is valid for the life of the horse.
  • It is an offence to apply for a duplicate passport for an equine unless the original is lost.
  • When a vet medicates or injects a horse, pony or donkey it must be recorded in the Administration of Veterinary Medicinal Products section of the passport if the equine has not been signed out of the human food chain.
  • In addition in the Administration of Veterinary Medicinal Products section, an equine can be signed out of the food chain by an owner or keeper and veterinarian.
  • When a horse, pony or donkey is sold the passport must be passed onto the new owner. Failure to do so is an offence.
  • When a horse, pony or donkey is purchased always obtain the passport and notify the PIO within 30 days of the new owner. Failure to do so is an offence.
  • If an equine dies or has to be put to sleep then the passport must be returned to the issuing PIO within 30 days to have it invalidated. Failure to do so is an offence.