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All horses, ponies, donkeys & mules must have a passport by 30th June 2004.  DEFRA are currently in the process of issuing further guidelines concerning passports, but it will not remove the necessity for them.

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Since 1993 the Government have been discussing the question of horse passports.  Implementation should have commenced on July 31st 2000, but this was delayed in the UK to June 2004.  From 30th June 2004 this legislation will apply to all horses in the UK and Europe.

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If you are unable to produce a passport for your horse you are liable to prosecution and a fine.

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Yes

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Yes

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The BDS is one of  ‘Issuing Authorities’ appointed by the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.  This means that it can issue passports.  Complete the Application Form and send it to the BDS Offices at 83 New Road, Helmingham, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6EA.   Tel: 01473 892001, Fax: 01473 892005

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No, you may prefer to obtain one from the Breed Society for your breed of horse providing they are an ‘Issuing Authority’ – and we would strongly recommend this if your horse is registered with such a society.  However the BDS can issue a passport for any breed of horse, donkey or mule.

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Yes, but there will be no charge providing you send the old passport to the BDS.  It will still be necessary for you to complete the application form..

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You need to check with that society that the details your passport contains conform with the regulations.  The passport may need to be returned to that society for updating.

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No, it is illegal to have more than one passport per animal.

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No, but if you are a member the cost is £10 per passport, otherwise to non-members it is £20.

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You can apply for a passport for as many horses as you need.  Only one passport per horse though.

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No, the actual owner of the animal should apply for the passport but it should reside with the keeper.

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The information held on the passport detailing the name, description, number and ownership of the animal is held by the BDS and will be forwarded on to the database authorities when required by DEFRA

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The BDS will keep the original application form and if applicable a copy of the original vaccination certificate.

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Yes, by signing the statement on the application form and in the passport stating that you do not wish your horse to be slaughtered for human consumption it will NEVER go into the human food chain, even after you sell it.  The BDS will keep record of this.

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No, and as a result other than Equine Influenza vaccination details if your horse is vaccinated, there is no need to record day to day veterinary treatment in the passport.

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You should sign the statement that you do not want to exclude your horse and make sure that whenever the horses receives any medication this is officially noted in the passport by the vet.

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Yes, by signing the statement concerning exclusion. Once done this can never be revoked.

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A foal will require a passport once it leaves its place of birth or when it is 6 months old whichever is earlier.

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The diagram and description on the back of this form should be completed and signed by a Veterinary Surgeon or you may use a copy of your vaccination certificate or other veterinary identification. Only if your equine is micro-chipped may you complete the diagram/description yourself

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No, if you send the original vaccination certificate with the application form this will suffice. However, you will have to complete the information required on the form which is not on your vaccination certificate. The BDS will return the certificate to you and it should be kept with the passport.

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(a) Because a vet must be able to identify the horse he/she is treating. Without a passport, which accurately identifies a horse, there will be certain drugs, which a vet will be unable to administer.

(b) Because an inaccurate identity is an offence.

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Write ‘Not Known’ for the breeding details and the approximate year of foaling stating that it is approximate.

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The breed society should be able to stamp the passport although for a registered animal we would strongly recommend that you get your passport from the relevant breed society.  Breeding details must be stamped by the breed society after the passport has been issued by the BDS. 

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You should take it with you whenever your horse is away from home. If your horse is at livery, or staying away from you, the passport must be where the horse is. It is not necessary to carry it with you when you are exercising, but you must be able to produce it if requested by the authorities.  It is essential that the passport is produced whenever any veterinary treatment is required.

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When your new passport arrives you should sign beside your name on the owners page and also the statement, which applies, to your previously stated wishes concerning the horse entering/not entering the human food chain.

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When you sell your horse, you and the buyer should complete the change of ownership form.  Within 28 days the new owner should send it and the passport to the BDS for amending. (There is a small charge.)  When your horse dies you should send the passport back to the BDS stating that the horse has passed away.

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Apply to the BDS for a duplicate.  The BDS will issue a replacement passport, which will be marked duplicate, and automatically excludes the horse from the human food chain. Be aware that it is an offence for a horse to have more than one passport, similarly for two horses to have the same passport!  So should you find the lost passport it must be returned to the BDS.

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Either photocopy the form or apply to the BDS for additional copies.

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The BDS anticipates that initially there will be great demand for passports but it will endeavour to issue them as quickly as possible.  Thereafter it hopes to issue them within 10 working days.

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This is the number that must appear on the passport and which identifies the horse. This number will be supplied by the organisation that issues the passport.

Although the legislation introducing the format of this requirement has not yet been finalised, it is likely that the UELN will consist of 15 digits, the first six consisting of the 3 digit UK code (826) and the three digit code belonging to the Society issuing the passport. The last nine digits will be issued by the passport issuing society on issue of a passport.