This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Extension of horse passport system
19/11/2002
An extension of the current requirements for horse
passports to include all horses, ponies and other equines,
was announced today.
Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural
Development, said:
"EC legislation requires Member States to extend the
current horse passport scheme to include all horses, ponies
and other equines. The objective of the scheme is to
prevent horses which have been administered with medicines
not authorised for use in food-producing animals from
entering the human food chain.
"It is intended that the new requirements will operate
from 31 December 2003 and my officials will continue to
work closely with the equine industry on the detailed
implementation arrangements for the scheme."
Commission Decision 2000/68 addresses a recognised
problem in respect of the use of certain veterinary
products in horses, ponies and other equines. This is
intended to ensure that equines treated with certain
veterinary medicines do not enter the human food chain.
The Decision requires all equines to have a passport
recording the veterinary medicines administered. Horses
currently registered with recognised breed Societies, which
already have passports, will need to apply for an
additional section for the passport to record veterinary
medicine details. All other equines that do not have a
passport at present will have to apply to an equine
organisation responsible for the issue of passports.
It is intended that the Decision will be implemented in
Scotland by 31 December 2003; SEERAD officials have already
met with industry organisations and further meetings will
be arranged to discuss the implementation arrangements.