IMPORTANT NEWS FOR EUROPEAN UNION BREEDERS

NEW ROYAL DECREE REGULATING EQUINE IDENTIFICATION AND REGISTRATIONS

As you already know, the European Commission, on the 6th of June 2008, published Regulation Nº 504/2008 (consult the full text at: www.lgancce.com or http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:149:0003:0032:EN:PDF), which refers to equine identification methods. This regulation is applicable throughout the European Union as of the first of July, 2009.

Despite the fact that this date has now passed, and that the Royal Decree incorporating this regulation into the laws of Spain has not been published, we would like to inform you in advance of the most important novelties covered by the said law, which, undoubtedly, will means changes in how stud farms in general, and more specifically PRE stud farms, will be administered.

Here the most important paragraphs are highlighted:

•    The LG-PRE-ANCCE Stud Book, as the issuing body recognized by the government of Spain, is solely responsible for establishing the identification documents (passports) and assigning the Universal Equine Life Number (UELN) code to PRE Horses, whatever their country of birth may be.

•    “…..equidae born in the Community shall be identified in accordance with this Regulation before 31 December of the year of the birth of the equine animal or within six months following the date of birth, whatever date occurs later.”

An animal is not considered identified until an Identification Document (passport) has been issued.

This point not only obliges all issuing organizations, as in the case of the LG-PRE-ANCCE Stud Book, to make additional efforts, but it also means that breeders must be prompt in requesting the identification of their horses.  Before the indicated dates conclude, the horse must already have its documents (Passport); otherwise the LG-PRE-ANCCE Stud Book office will not be able to proceed with the identification process. Thus, the breeder will then have to request an identification document from the corresponding Authority from his country, which will issue a “substitute document.” This substitute documents may never be exchanged by the LG-PRE ANCCE Stud Book Office for a passport or any other document during the life of the animal.

The responsibility for having their horses documented within the time period falls upon the breeder. Due to this, all application for registration must be made as soon as possible, or at least three months before the expiration date as established by the EU law.

•    “The identification document shall accompany registered equidae and equidae for breeding and production at all times. 

…..(it) need not accompany equidae referred to in that paragraph on the occasion when they are:

o    stabled or on pasture…
o     moved temporarily on foot…
o    unweaned and accompany their dam or foster mare;
o    participating in a training event or test of an equestrian competition or event which requires them to leave the competition or event venue;
o    moved or transported in an emergency situation…

Any horse, whatever the age, that leaves the stud farm of its birth, must be identified (have a passport)

•    Duplicated documents must be clearly identified as such, and they must specify (that the horse) is not destined for sacrifice for human consumption, in Section IX part II of the identification document. This classification may be annulled within a period of thirty (30) days, provided there is proof that the said horse has not been compromised by any veterinary treatment.

We will keep you informed.