This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Horse passport deadline extended
21/11/2003
An extension to the deadline for the owners of all
horses and other equines in Scotland to obtain a horse
passport was announced today.
Passports are required under EU regulations to address
problems in mainland Europe, where horses may enter the
human food chain.
Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said:
"The results of a consultation exercise carried out
recently showed that horse owners and the majority of
Passport Issuing Organisation (PIOs) were concerned that
they would not be able to meet the demand for new passports
by the proposed legislative deadline of 31 December
2003.
"I have therefore decided that the date by which a
passport has to be obtained for all equines should be
extended to 30 June 2004. This will give PIOs the extra
time required to cope with the expected demand for
passports."
Commission Decision 2000/68 requires all equines to have
a passport recording the veterinary medicines
administered. This is to ensure that equines treated with
certain veterinary medicines do not enter the human food
chain. 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 had been intended that applications for passports
should be submitted by 31 December 2003. As a result of
comments received during the consultation period and more
recently by concerns expressed by the majority of Passport
Issuing Authorities that it may not be possible to meet the
legislative timetable, the deadline by which a passport has
to be obtained has been extended until 30 June 2004.