Guidance

Export or move horses and ponies to the EU and Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021

Rules for exporting or moving horses and other equines, including ponies and donkeys, to the EU and Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021

Brexit transition: new rules for 2021

The UK has left the EU. This page tells you the new rules from 1 January 2021.

It will be updated if there’s new information about the UK’s deal with the EU that affects what you need to do.

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Moving equines from Great Britain (GB) to the EU or Northern Ireland (NI) from 1 January 2021

To move horses and other equines from GB (England, Scotland and Wales) to the EU or NI from 1 January 2021, you’ll need to contact:

  • your official vet to book an appointment so you can get blood tests taken in time
  • an agent or transporter and tell them when you plan to travel – you may need more time to plan travel through an EU border control post (BCP)

You’ll also need to:

Tests for equines before export

You’ll need to get your equines tested to prove they’re free of certain diseases.

You’ll need tests for:

  • equine infectious anaemia – within 90 days before travel for temporary exports (of under 90 days) for horses registered with a national branch of an international body for sporting and competition purposes, or within 30 days before travel for permanent exports and all other temporary exports
  • equine viral arteritis – within 21 days of travel for uncastrated male equines older than 180 days, unless they meet vaccination requirements

Isolation and residency requirements before export

You’ll need to keep horses and other equines in certain conditions before export.

Before you temporarily (less than 90 days) export or move a horse to the EU or NI that’s registered with a national branch of an international body for sporting or competition purposes or an EU-recognised UK studbook, you’ll need to keep it on a holding in GB or a country with a similar health status either:

  • for 40 days
  • since its entry into GB, if the animal was imported or moved directly from the EUNI or a country with a similar health status to GB less than 40 days before you export

Before permanent export or movement, or temporary export or movement of any other equine into the EU or NI, you’ll need to keep the animal separate from other equines that do not have equivalent health status for at least 30 days.

You’ll also need to keep the animal on a holding in GB under veterinary supervision, or a country with similar health status either:

  • for 90 days
  • since birth if the animal is younger than 90 days old
  • since its entry into GB if the animal was imported or moved directly from the EU less than 90 days before you export

Your supervising vet does not need to be an official vet. However, an official vet must confirm that you’ve met these requirements before you export the equine.

Apply for an export health certificate (EHC)

You’ll need to complete an EHC and some supporting documents to export or move a live animal from GB to the EU or NI from 1 January 2021.

The EHC is an official document that confirms your export meets the health requirements of the destination country.

Find out how to apply for an EHC.

Check you have the right equine ID

You’ll be able to use the horse passport (industry-issued equine ID) to export or move equines registered with one of the following:

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

To export or move all other equines, you’ll need a government-issued supplementary travel ID from:

  • APHA if you’re in GB – this will be sent to your OV along with the EHC
  • DAERA if you’re in Northern Ireland

Your official vet will give you the supplementary travel ID with the EHC when they check the animal before travel.

You’ll need to keep the supplementary travel ID together with the horse passport and the EHC with the animal during travel.

The supplementary travel ID will be valid for a single journey to the EU or NI and return to GB. You’ll need to get a supplementary travel ID every time you move an unregistered horse to the EU or NI.

EU border rules

You’ll need to complete a customs declaration form before the equine arrives at the EU border.

Plan your trade route so that your animal can be inspected at an EU BCP. Some BCPs accept both registered and unregistered equines but not all do. You’ll need to check the correct BCP to go through.

Make sure you or your EU-based import agent has notified the BCP on TRACES, in advance, that your consignment is arriving. Check with the BCP for how much notice needs to be given.

NI boundary rules

Equines moving from GB to NI will need to enter NI at a designated point of entry, where they may be subject to controls. Pre-notification requirements will also apply.

Documents to transport live animals

To transport live animals (including equines) from GB to the EU, you’ll need to apply to an EU member state where you have representation, for an EU-issued:

  • transporter authorisation
  • certificate of competence
  • vehicle approval certificate

The EU will no longer recognise GB-issued versions of these documents.

You are not permitted to hold transporter authorisation or vehicle approval certificates in more than one member state. You may not be able to apply before 1 January 2021.

You can hold a certificate of competence in more than one member state. You may apply for this from the relevant member state before 1 January 2021.

For movements of equines from GB to NI, you’ll need versions of these documents issued by DAERA.

For further information, email CITCarlisle@apha.gov.uk.

Journey logs

To transport unregistered equines from or through GB to the EU, you’ll need to apply for 2 journey logs:

  • one approved by the EU member state which is the first point of entry into the EU
  • one approved by APHA (or DAERA, if the journey originates in NI)

For movements of unregistered equines from GB to NI, you’ll need a journey log issued by DAERA.

For further information on documents to transport equines, email CITCarlisle@apha.gov.uk.

Check if you need an export welfare declaration

Whether you need an export welfare declaration depends on the horse or other equine you’re exporting and where you’re exporting it to.

You do not need an export welfare declaration if you’re moving:

  • horses by direct flight to countries outside of Europe
  • horses over 147cm to the Republic of Ireland
  • horses or ponies to NI, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
  • certain horses to France

Thoroughbred horses do not need an export declaration if the British Horseracing Authority certifies that any of the following apply:

  • they arrived in GB no more than one month before the date of shipment and to compete in a race
  • they’re being shipped for a race or for training
  • they’re being shipped to be used for breeding

Get an export welfare declaration

If you need an export declaration, download the form for:

You can use the welfare arrangements guidance notes for exporters (PDF, 84.1KB, 4 pages) to help you.

Complete the relevant form and give it to the pilot of the aircraft or master of the vessel that’s carrying the horses or ponies.

Exporting equines from NI to the EU

There will be no changes to the way equines are exported from NI to the EU. These exports will continue as before.

Returned horses and other equines rejected from a BCP from 1 January to 30 June 2021

From 1 January to 30 June 2021, APHA will carry out a risk assessment of horses and other equines rejected at EU BCPs or Northern Irish points of entry. APHA will decide which point of entry they may use to re-enter GB.

Apply to APHA Centre for International Trade (CIT) on IPAFFS to submit a notification to return horses or other equines.

Submit the notification one working day in advance or at least 4 hours before arrival if it’s not possible to do so sooner.

Attach these documents to the IPAFFS notification:

  • the original export certificate and related documentation
  • statement from the EU BCP or NI point of entry BCP of the reasons why the horses or other equines were refused by the EU BCP
  • statement from the EU BCP or NI point of entry with details of the premises in which the horses or other equines were kept since leaving GB, for example in quarantine or in isolation
  • declaration by the person responsible for the returned horses or other equines that the import conditions relating to transport have been complied with
  • declaration by the person responsible for the horses or other equines that they have not been in contact with any other animal of a lesser health status since leaving GB

APHA will decide:

  • the conditions of import
  • if the consignment will have BCP checks on entry to GB

APHA will give you an authorisation. You must comply with the conditions of the authorisation.

Returned horses and other equines rejected from an EU BCP from 1 July 2021

From 1 July 2021, returned horses and other equines must enter GB at an appropriately designated BCP for checks on entry.

You must notify on IPAFFS and present the relevant documents to the BCP.

Follow guidance on returned goods processes for animal products and live animals.

Moving horses to Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland

From 1 January 2021, if you want to move horses from GB to Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland you should consult your transporter or the competent authority in the country you’re exporting to.

Published 29 January 2020
Last updated 28 December 2020 

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