ON January 1st 2021, Britain became a third country when it exited the European Union which signalled the end of the successful Tripartite Agreement between Ireland, Britain and France, which allowed the free movement of horses.

So what does that mean for Irish competitors or sellers who use Britain as a landbridge to get their animals to mainland Europe?

On December 17th 2020, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in Ireland and Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK agreed on a deal that would allow horses move across the UK landbridge on a DOCOM (for high health status horses) or Intra Trade Certificate, generated on the TRACES (Trade Control and Export System) system.

This means, according to the latest DEFRA update, the transit of horses must be pre-notified on TRACES, and they can then enter and exit Britain through any port with no identity or physical inspections carried out at entry or exit. The Animal and Plant Health Association (APHA) will carry out remote documentary checks.

Speaking on a DAFM webinar on December 17th, Superintending Veterinary Inspector, Catherine Lawler, said: “I’m delighted to be able to announce that in the last half an hour our colleagues in London in the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that a DOCOM or an Intra Trade Certificate, generated on TRACES system, will be allowed to move horses across the UK landbridge.

“You will not be required to separately notify the UK import system.

“We have drafted a Bipartite Agreement that French authorities agree with and from January 1st, 2021 you will be able to use a DOCOM to move horses from Ireland to France directly and via the landbridge in Great Britain.”

However, all those moving horses to and from Britain are going to have to be well prepared. Advance contact with all Border Control Posts (BCPs) horses will be travelling through must be undertaken.

The port at Calais in France is checking horses and have opening hours from 8am-6pm, and it is believed they are processing just three horses an hour. Any horses arriving outside those hours will have to remain in the vehicle until the office is open, and some BCPs are working on an appointment basis. Ensure you have researched your route before leaving home and make any appointments necessary.

Export Health Certificates

Anyone moving horses to Britain will need a Supplementary Health Certificate from their private veterinary surgeon while the crucial Export Health Certificate will be issued by your Local Regional Veterinary Office, operated by the DAFM. A minimum of five working days’ notice is needed and the certificate cost is €12.50 per horse.

Advance notice must be given to GB’s new import system – a replacement for TRACES – but only a UK-based agent can submit this notification which must be done at least 24 hours in advance of your horse(s) arriving in Britain. This system assigns a Unique Notification Number which will be included in the Export Health Certificate from Ireland.

Sporting events

Registered equines returning to Ireland after competition within 30 days, can do so without the need for pre-movement blood testing, residency or isolation. They will though still require an export health certificate which needs to be signed off by an Official Vet in Britain before departure.