Horse Passports

What is a horse passport?

A horse passport is a small booklet that has important details about your horse, including:

• How your horse looks (shown in a picture called a "silhouette").
• Micro-chip details.
• Your horse's age.
• Your horse's breed or type.
• All the medicines your horse has taken (if it can be used for human food).

Why would I need one?

• You must have an up-to-date horse passport to identify your horse.
• If you don't have one, you could be fined up to £5000.
• To make sure horses with certain medicines don't enter the human food chain.
• To prevent the sale of stolen horses by proving their identity.

What happens if I don't have a horse passport?

• You cannot move your horse
• Vets might not be able to give your horse certain medicines
• You cannot have your horse slaughtered for human food

Getting your horse passport checked

• You might need to show your horse’s passport to a trading standards inspector
  • Or Animal Health Officer.
• This could happen at a horse market or during a roadside check.
• If you are applying for a passport and do not have it yet, tell the inspector.
  • They can check your application with the passport-issuing organisation.

Keeping your horse passport up to date

• If you or your vet gives your horse a medicine called bute:
  • The passport must be marked as “not intended for the food chain.”

Important things to be aware of

• Do not buy or sell a horse without a horse passport.
• If someone sells you a horse without a passport:
  • Contact your local Trading Standards office.
  • They may take legal action against the seller.

Contacts

Defra Helpline

• Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-defra.
• Phone: 03459 335577.
• Email: [email protected].

Information

• The Horse Passports Regulations 2009 No.1611.
• Commission Regulation (EC) No. 504/2008.
• The Horses (Zootechnical Standards) (England) Regulations 2006.
• Guide to the Horse Passports Regulations 2009.
• Find out more information on Horse Passports on the government website.