Official DEFRA Vets

For those planning to export horses and ponies (temporarily or permanently) there are regulations which you should be aware of. Please go to Export horses and ponies: special rules - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for the full information or call us to speak to one of our official veterinary export team authorised to work on behalf of APHA.

To export or move horses and other equines from GB to the EU or NI, you need to contact:

• your official vet, so you can get blood tests taken in time.
• an agent or transporter and tell them when you plan to travel, this may take more time.

Tests for equines before export - You must get your horse tested to prove they’re free of:

• equine infectious anaemia (EIA)
• equine viral arteritis (EVA)

Isolation and residency requirements before export - You need to keep horses in certain conditions before export. An official vet must confirm that you have met these requirements before you export the equine.

Apply for an export health certificate (EHC) - You need to complete an EHC and some supporting documents to export or move a live animal from GB to the EU or NI. The EHC is an official document that confirms your export meets the health requirements of the destination country.

Check you have the right equine ID - You can use the horse passport to export equines registered with:

• an EU-recognised studbook
• a national branch of an international racing or competition organisation

To export all other equines, you need a government-issued supplementary travel ID from APHA, this is sent to your official vet along with the EHC.

EU border rules - You need to complete a customs declaration form before the equine arrives at the EU border. Plan your route so that your horse can be inspected at an EU BCP. Some BCPs accept both registered and unregistered equines but not all do. You need to check. Make sure you or your EU-based import agent have notified the border control point (BCP), in advance.

NI border rules - Horses must enter NI at a designated point of entry.

Recognition of UK studbooks - The EU has recognised UK studbooks that applied for listing. If you’re exporting a horse that belongs to one of these, your horse can use EHCs that are only available to registered horses.

If you’re exporting a horse that does not belong to an EU-recognised UK studbook, you’ll need to follow the rules for unregistered horses.

Check if you need an export welfare declaration - Whether you need an export welfare declaration depends on the horse and where you’re exporting it to.

Go to Export horses and ponies: special rules - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for the full information or call us to speak to one of our official veterinary export team authorised to work on behalf of APHA.

For those breeding horses - It is also worth noting that importing semen from abroad may be a slower process than usual so need to prepare well ahead of time if hoping to breed this way.