12:43pm Thursday 9th July 2009
By Lisa Evans
A LAW has just come into effect that means any owners of new foals or unregistered horses need to get their animals micro-chipped and obtain ‘passports’ for them.
The rules are designed to help protect owners against horse theft and loss, but owners are also liable for a £5,000 fine if they don’t comply.
New EU rules that harmonise horse identification regulations across Europe and strengthen the horse passports scheme took effect in the UK from last Weednesday.
The new regulations require all foals born after July 1, and horses born before June 30 that have not yet been issued with a passport, to have a microchip implanted by a vet when their owners apply for a passport.
Compulsory micro-chipping aids accurate identification as it provides a permanent link between the horse and its passport, which are really identity papers.
Micro-chipping will also help recover and identify stolen and abandoned horses, as well assist with welfare cases.
You can find out more about the new EU horse ID regulations by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/horsepassports
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