EQUINE welfare and, importantly, their traceability, is firmly on political agendas, as referenced elsewhere in these pages this week by political party manifestos. The Department of Agriculture are upping the ante on the equine census this year, using it as an equine traceability system and it is vital that anyone keeping equines completes the census, which takes place next Saturday night, November 30th.

Failure to return a census will result in your equine premises registration number (EPRN) being made inactive on the Department’s systems and, in turn, could prevent keepers from being able to register foals, export horses or sell horses. If your EPRN is deactivated, equine keepers will have to reapply through their Regional Veterinary Office.

Review

As reported in Irish Horse World in July, Professor Patrick Wall has been tasked with carrying out a review of the equine traceability system in Ireland and his recommendations are expected shortly. Details of the new traceability system will be announced as part of the publication of Professor Wall’s report.

The review came after an RTÉ Investigates programme exposed worrying footage, suggesting that horses had their identities changed in order to enter the food chain. At the time, Professor Wall told The Irish Field that “the horse industry has brought a lot of grief on the food industry”.

Traceability of equines has been referenced by multiple political parties in their General Election manifestos, with Labour saying: “After the horsemeat and recent abuse scandals, [we will] increase traceability in the equine sector to bovine standards.”