Digital Equine Passports have been proposed in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, as discussion surrounding the equine industry’s future is sparked!
Proposed solutions have been sent to EU and UK officials surrounding the security of the equine industry between the EU and UK. Aiming to secure safe and efficient horse transport between the soon-to-be-separate states, essential plans have been sent to Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom (UKTF) and to Lord Frost, the British Prime Minister’s Europe Adviser and Chief Negotiator of Task Force Europe.
Outlined in the 14-page document are plans to introduce digital passports and increased zero-tariff transport across borders. Produced by the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) Task Force for Brexit, a group of globally recognised equine bodies such as the FEI, and EU Animal Health Law, the proposals seek security within the equine sphere of the economy as well as equine welfare standards.
The IHSC, together with the International Thoroughbred Breeders’ Federation, European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders Associations and the European Equestrian Federation, has proposed simple and workable solutions that will ensure horse welfare and safeguard both European and British interests.
Currently, high-health horses in Britain have the same health status as those in EU Member States. The task force is requesting that a new trade agreement between the EU and Britain should continue to reflect this fact.
Zero tariffs for cross-border transport of mares and stallions, that are already in place, have been requested to be maintained. It has also been requested in the new proposal will see zero-tariff transport of geldings too.
Digital passports that have been proposed, would provide EU Authorities with full traceability and health guarantees. The introduction of digital passports also offers the opportunity for immediate, 24/7 access to secure identification and ownership information, as well as real-time monitoring of a horse’s movements.
The high-health status of each horse can be instantly validated through access to up-to-date vaccination and medical records via the new digital passporting of equines, allowing for a higher level of monitoring and prevention of potential disease outbreaks. This would also aid in facilitating speedy transit for horses throughout the states. The digital equine passports could also be adopted for use between EU Member States and A-listed 3rd countries, such as Australia
If approved, the e-Passport would have no financial implications for the EU as costs around final development, implementation and running of the system will be met by the equine industry.
If the new proposals are accepted in the Brexit Trade Agreement and in the EU Animal Health Law, they will come into force on 21 April 2021.
Should a trade agreement with Britain not be reached, the task force is asking the EU to declare an equilibrium of health status for A-listed 3rd countries. The proposals also include regional agreements on the bio-secure and traceable movement of healthy horses between neighbouring EU Member States.
IHSC President Ingmar De Vos, explained;
The equine industry is of crucial importance to the economic, social, sporting and cultural fabric of both the European Union and the United Kingdom, and as representatives from all sectors of that industry, we believe that there are simple solutions that can guarantee a secure future for the European equine industry.”
It is one of the most important animal breeding and production sectors in Europe, larger and with greater economic impact and employment than a number of other European agricultural sectors, with a net worth of over €52 billion per annum, providing 210,000 direct and more than 500,000 indirect jobs.”
Our goal is to reach an agreement that will allow for a continuation of the historical expedited movement of horses for breeding, sale and competition between EU Member States and Britain. While there are some sectors currently under discussion that seem to remain difficult in the negotiations, we believe that there are simple solutions within the equine industry that can be readily included in a Free Trade Agreement. Indeed, they are also workable even in a no deal scenario.”
We are asking the negotiators on both sides of the table to take our proposals on board and incorporate them into the texts of the Trade Agreement, if there is one, and the EU to include them in the incoming EU Animal Health Law, which comes into effect next April.”
Without agreement on this, we estimate that the industry in Europe could shrink by as much as a third, with a potential €17 billion reduction in economic contribution, and the potential loss of 250,000 jobs in a marketplace already threatened with critical unemployment levels and a significant reduction in foreign direct investment in the European Union as the economic focus shifts to North America and Asia. So failure is not an option!”
If the new proposals are accepted in the Brexit Trade Agreement and EU Animal Health Law, they will come into force on 21 April 2021.
Should a trade agreement with Britain not be reached, the task force is asking the EU to declare an equilibrium of health status for A-listed 3rd countries. The proposals also include regional agreements on the bio-secure and traceable movement of healthy horses between the neighbouring EU Member States.
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