Guidance
Export horses and ponies: special rules
CurrentRules rules for exporting horses and other equines, including ponies and donkeys, toand thewhat EUyou andneed Northernto Irelanddo (NI).in a no-deal Brexit.
Most BCPcountries frommay 1have January
Follow horsesseparate fromguidance GBif you want to Switzerland,find Liechtenstein,out Norwayhow oryou Iceland
Exporting ortells movingyou equineshow fromto Greatprepare Britainfor (GB)Brexit and will be updated if anything changes.
Sign up for email alerts to get the latest information.
Moving equines to the EU orin NI
a no-deal Brexit
To export or move horses and other equines from GBthe (England,UK Scotland and Wales) to the EU orif NI,there’s youa no-deal Brexit, you’ll need to contact:
- your official vet to book an appointment so you can get blood tests taken in time
- an agent or transporter and tell them when you plan to travel –
-you may requireneedmore time to plan travel through an EU border controlinspectionpost (BCPBIP)
FindYou’ll details of the most used BCPs in the EU:
You also need to:
- get equines tested for certain diseases
- meet isolation and residency requirements
- apply for an export health certificate (EHC)
- check you have the right equine identification (ID)
- be aware of EU border rules
- check that the person transporting the animals has the correct documentation
- check if you need an export welfare declaration
Tests for equines before export
YouYou’ll mustneed to get your equines tested toso prove they’re free of certain diseases.
YouYou’ll need tests for:
- equine infectious anaemia –
-within30daysbeforetravelforpermanentexports,orofunder 90 days)daysfor(forhorses registered with a national branch of an international body for sporting and competition purposes, or within 30 days before travel for permanent exports and all other temporary exportspurposes) - equine viral arteritis –
-within 21 days of travel for uncastrated male equines older than 180 days, unless they meet vaccination requirements
Isolation and residency requirements before export
YouYou’ll need to keep horses and other equines in certain conditions before export.
Before you export temporarily (less than 90 days) export or move a horse to the EU or NI that’s registered with a national branch of an international body for sporting or competition purposespurposes, or an EU-recognised UK studbook, you will need to keep it on a holding in GBthe UK or a country with a similar health status either:
- for 40 days
- since its entry into
toGBthe(ifUK,iftheUKexport
Before permanent exportexport, or movement, or temporary export or movement of any other equineequine, intoyou’ll theneed EUto or NI, you must keep the animal separate from other equines that do not have equivalent health status for at least 30 days.
YouYou’ll also need to keep the animal on a holding in GBthe UK under veterinary supervision, or a country with similar health status either:
- for 90 days
- since birth (if
ifthe animal is younger than 90 days old)old - since its entry into
toGBthe(ifUKifexport
Your supervising vet does not need to be an official vet. However, an official vet must confirm that youyou’ve have met these requirements before you export the equine.
Apply for an export health certificate (EHC)
You need to complete an EHC and some supporting documents to export or move a live animal fromin GBa no-deal Brexit.
The EHC will replace the Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC) for exports to countries in the EU.
To orapply NIfor an EHC. you’ll need to:
The
Findtheandotherformsyouneedontheexporthealthcertificateformfinder.Ifyou’reexportingfromNorthernIreland,contactyourlocalDepartmentofAgriculture,EnvironmentandRuralAffairs(DAERA)office.MostEHCshaveguidancedocumentstellingyouhowtofilloutthecertificate.Nominatevetthattoconfirmsinspectyourhorseorotherequines.Therearevariouswaysyoucanfindone:checkthelistofprofessionalswhocancertifyhealthcertificatesaskatyourlocalvetemailcsconehealthovteam@apha.gov.uk(ifyou’reinNorthernIrelandcontactDAERA)
FillintheEHCandsupportingformsandemailthemtotheAnimalPlantandHealthAgency(APHA)addressontheforms.APHAwillsendyourEHCtoyourofficialvetwithin7workingdays,orwithinoneworkingdayifyouplantoexportinthenext7workingdays.They’llprovidecopiesinthelanguagesofthedestinationcountryandthecountrywherethehorseorotherequinefirstenterstheEU.ArrangefortheofficialvettocheckthehorseorotherequineFind
countryoutwithinhow48tohoursapplyoffortravel.anTheofficialvetwillcompleteandsigntheIf you’re
andmovingsendequinesacopyAPHA,.TheofficialvetmustgivethenotEHCneedontothepaysamedaythatyouloadtheanimalstravel.KeeptothebecompletedinspectedEHCand certified.otherThedocumentscertifierwithinvoicestheanimalduringtravel.
There’s no fee for the governmentcertificate, but you’ll need to pay for theseyour costsvet’s asservices.
If partyou’re ofin theNorthern MovementIreland, Assistancecontact SchemeDAERA. for specific advice.
Check you have the right equine ID
YouYou’ll canbe able to use the horse passport (industry-issued equine ID) to export or move equines registered with one of the following:
- an EU-recognised studbook
orpedigreeregister - a national branch of an international racing or competition organisation
To export or move all other equines, youyou’ll need to apply for a government-issued supplementaryequine travel ID from:
-
APHA if you’re in GB
Great–Britainthis-isfindsentthetoapplicationyourformofficialonvet along with the EHCformfinder -
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) if you’re in NI
NorthernIreland
APHA will tell you when they have sent your equine ID form to your official vet. Your official vet will give you the supplementaryequine travel ID with the EHC when they check the animal before travel.
YouYou’ll need to keep the supplementaryequine travel ID together with the horse passport and the EHC with the animal during travel.
The supplementaryequine travel ID iswill be valid for a single journey to the EU or NI and return to GB.the YouUK. mustYou’ll getneed to apply for a supplementarygovernment-issued travelequine ID every time you move an unregistered horse to the EU or NI.
EU border rules
YouYou’ll need to complete a customs declaration form before the equine arrives at the EU border.
Plan your trade route so that your animal can be inspected at an EU BCPBIP. Some BCPsBIPS accept both registered and unregistered equines but not all do. YouYou’ll need to check the correct BCPBIP to go through.
Make sure you or your EU-based import agent havehas notified the BCPBIP on TRACES, in advance, that your consignment is arriving.arriving Check- check with the BCPBIP for how much notice needs to be given.
NIRecognition boundaryof rulesUK studbooks
EquinesThe movingUK fromhas GBapplied to NIthe need to enter NIEU atfor athe designatedrecognition point of entry,UK wherestudbooks. theyYou mayshould beplan subjectany toexports controls.on Pre-notificationthe requirementsbasis alsothat apply.
Contact the MovementUK’s Assistancestudbooks Schemewill helplinenot forbe advicerecognised onimmediately movingafter equinesBrexit. toThis NI.
Recognitionmeans ofif UKyou’re studbooks
Theexporting EUa hashorse recognisedregistered thein a UK studbooksstudbook thatyou appliedshould forfollow listing.the Therules Europeanset Commissionout hasfor publishedunregistered a list of the EU-recognised UK studbookshorses..
If you’rerecognition exportingis agranted, horsehorses thatin belongsrecognised toUK anstudbooks EU-recognisedwill UKbe studbook,able yourto horseuse canexport usehealth EHCscertificates that are only available to registered horses.
This Yourwould horsemean canthese thenhorses can follow the same rules for blood testing, residency and isolation as thosehorses registered with a national branch of an international body for racing or competition.competition Thesewhen rules apply to horses that are moving to the EU for lessunder than 90 days.
In addition, these horses belonging to an EU-recognised UK studbook:would:
- do
nonotlongerneed a government-issued supplementaryequinetravel ID to move from the UK to the EU or NI - can
beabletoBIPsor points of entry approved for registered equines
Other export requirements
IfBefore you’reexporting, exportingbusinesses amust:
registerhorseforthatandoesEconomicnotOperatorbelongRegistertoandanIdentificationEU(EORI-recognised)UKnumberbestudbook,awareyou’llofneedpotentialtoEUfollowtradethetariffruleschangesfindforoutexportingtheunregisteredcommodityhorsescode.Documents to
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ifcarnettoyoustreamlineneedcustomsanprocessescheckexportthewelfarewiderdeclarationreadexportthewelfareno-dealdeclarationinformationdependsfromon the horseDepartmentorofotherAgricultureequineFoodyou’re exporting and wheretheyou’reMarineexportinginittheto.You
RepublicdoofnotIrelandrequire(ROI)anifexportyouwelfareregularlydeclarationmoveif you’re moving:- horses by
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ExportingMoving equines fromwithin NI to the EU
: current rules
To move horses, ponies or donkeys fromwithin NI to the EU (except(or theto RepublicSwitzerland, ofLiechtenstein, Ireland),Norway and Iceland) you must:
- apply for an Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC)
- check if you need an export welfare declaration
Apply for an ITAHC
You’ll need to follow these steps when applying for an ITAHC:
- Nominate an official vet to inspect your horses. To find one, ask at your local vet or contact
emailDAERAcsonehealthovteam@apha.gov.uk. -
Register with the TRACES system if you
you’vehave not used it before. - Sign in to TRACES and fill in the details of the animals you’re exporting.
- Your
ContacttheAnimalandPlantHealthAgency(APHA)(DAERAinNorthernIreland)-tellthemthatthehasbeencreatedandgivethemdetailsofyourofficialvet. YourcertificateonceTRACES.youranimalshavepassedinspection.theITAHC,certificate,contact DAERAtheAPHACentreforInternationalTradeCarlisle.Includethecertificatewhenyouexportyourconsignment.
Inform
Instead DAERAof using TRACES, thatyou yourcan officialfill vetin hasform received
, withusing detailsthe of
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Send the completed form to the APHA whenCentre youfor exportInternational yourTrade consignment.
Carlisle.
Your ITAHC will be valid for 10 days after itthe certificate has been signed.
There’s no fee for anthe ITAHCcertificate but you’ll be charged for your vet’s services.
Moving horses between NIthe UK and the Republic of Ireland
You can move horses and otherdonkeys equines freely between NIthe UK and the Republic of Ireland freely unless they’rethey transportedare destined for slaughter.
Keep the horse passport with the animalhorse during travel.
You dodon’t not need an ITAHC but you must comply with welfare legislation.
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Moving equines outside the EU: BCPcurrent orrules
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Forsign the IPAFFSEHC. notification,The thecompleted ‘countryEHC ofwill origin’go iswith the countryanimal, whereand the rejectingofficial BCPvet iswill located.
Emailsend a copy to APHA.
There Centreis no fee for Internationalprocessing Tradethe (CIT)EHC atbut imports@apha.gov.ukyou’ll need to tellpay themfor thatthe official vet’s services.
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Last updated 11
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Updated dates in section on returned horses and other equines rejected from an EU Border Control Post (BCP).
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New guidance on the recognition of UK studbooks.
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Updated EXA31 equidae form and guidance note
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Updated call out box to reflect latest Brexit status
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Updated as UK will have third country status for equines
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Added in extra information about streamlined re-entry processes to the EU.
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Export declaration guidance notes updated
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Updated guidance following the EU’s decision to list the UK as a third country for the export of equines.
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Added guidance on other import and export requirements if the UK exists the EU without a deal.
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Updated with guidance on export health certificates and other new requirements if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
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EHC list updated
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Export Health Certificate list updated.
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EHC list updated
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Updated broken link
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First published.