The Welsh Pony and Cob Society
Cymdeithas y Merlod a'r Cobiau Cymreig

Letter from Welsh Assembly Government

To all Welsh Passport Issuing Organisations

1 November 2006

Dear Colleague,

Horse Passports : Update concerning the the rules on the cancellation and re-issue of horse passports in order to record verified breeding data.

I am writing to clarify the situation over the intention to end the temporary dispensation for the cancellation and re-issue of horse passports with effect from 31 December 2006.

It is understood that some sections of the industry would prefer for these arrangements to remain in place and whilst some of these concerns are noted, the deadline of 31 December 2006 for this practice to end will need to remain in place. EU rules did not envisage passports being changed and re-issued to cater for registrations with different societies.  Furthermore, the European Commission is placing increasing emphasis on there being only 'one passport issued for a horse' for the lifetime of that animal. Clearly, allowing the re-issue of passports does not meet that objective.

Following discussions with Defra, representatives from Breed and 'ID only' passport issuing organisations and the National Equine Database it has been agreed to put in place some alternative (and permanent) arrangements. It is considered that these arrangements will address the industry's concerns that valuable breeding data may be lost as a result of the cessation of the above arrangements.

The main point that I wish to draw your attention to is that the new procedure will, in future, enable verified breeding details to be recorded on a horse's 'ID only' passport. To enable this, the breed society holding the horse's pedigree information can provide 'over stamping' information that will enable Section II of the 'ID only' passport to be updated with verified pedigree details. These details would then also be provided to the National Equine Database. An additional benefit to this arrangement is that the records of the pedigree society concerned will be more current - as the issuer of the 'ID only' passport will provide updates to the Breed Society concerning any changes of ownership etc.

There is no mandatory requirement for 'ID only' passports to be updated with pedigree data and this should only be done at the specific request of the owner and on receipt of documentary evidence. The detail and mechanisms of such arrangements are currently being drawn up but it is considered that they provide a practical and long term solution to the industry's concerns that breeding data may be lost.

A copy of the new procedure and rules relating to the arrangement will be forwarded in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Fiona Leadbitter
Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer

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