HORSE Sport Ireland’s Director of Breeding Alison Corbally issued the following statement to The Irish Field in response to passport issues.

“I can confirm that Mr Fitzpatrick attended Horse Sport Ireland with three ISH passports, and one Irish Cob Studbook, seeking clarification with regard to passport classification as ‘not intended for slaughter for human consumption’.

“Firstly, I would like to categorically refute your statement* (*Irish Field press query) that “three passports which were initially mistakenly stamped out of the food chain, the mistake was recognised by HSI staff on Tuesday afternoon and the white sticker applied so those are now stamped in.” This is factually incorrect. Horse Sport Ireland did not ‘stamp in’ the passports as these passports were as presented, already included on the equine database as eligible for slaughter for human consumption.

“Horse Sport Ireland can confirm that the passports presented were reviewed and clarity was provided to the equidae document wherein section IX, was updated. We acknowledge that some confusion exists in relation to a number of passports issued during 2010 wherein passports were issued with Section IX, which could be construed as the equine as not intended for slaughter for human consumption, when in fact the equine is in fact eligible for human consumption at that time.

“As such, this is the clarity which was provided to the passports presented on Tuesday.

“Passports which carry a red stamp in conjunction with a label bearing the wording ‘’Not Intended for Slaughter for Human Consumption’’ and are recorded on the AMS Database as “Not intended for Slaughter for Human Consumption” are stamped out of the food chain.

“The database maintained by the studbook and linked to the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine reflects the status of each animal. The process was modified in 2011 to ensure clarity surrounding this issue. Furthermore, the new AMS database installed by HSI in 2013 further refines the process and is linked to the Department of Agriculture AIMS database, which provides up-to-date information on registered animals.

“The PIO relies on the information provided by the applicant at the time of registration, the marking chart and microchip number (completed by the veterinary surgeon) to identify the horse, having regard to the Department of Agriculture guidelines. The responsible person applying for the passport, the veterinary surgeon and the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine are responsible to ensure that the data provided to the PIO are accurate in all respects.

“Should anyone have any query with regard to the above, please do not hesitate to contact the Registrations Unit, Horse Sport Ireland, info@horsesportireland.ie”