British horseracing鈥檚 Thoroughbred Industries Brexit Steering Group welcomes the news that the UK Government and聽the聽European Union have reached an agreement in principle聽on a Free Trade Agreement鈥�(FTA).
As鈥痶he British and European Thoroughbred鈥痠ndustries鈥痑re highly鈥痠ntegrated,鈥痠t鈥痠s a positive step that鈥痑n鈥痑greement鈥痟as聽been鈥痳eached. We look forward to聽future trade and upholding聽horse welfare聽with our European partners.
As the transition period ends聽there will still聽be some significant change to the movement of horses from 1 January and some disruption as聽new arrangements come in to place. We can confirm that聽the EU has recognised the General Stud Book. This allows racing and breeding stock聽to be treated as 鈥渞egistered鈥� horses from 1 January, which is positive news.
Third country animal disease listing has also been granted. This defines聽the UK鈥檚 overarching status relating to animal health and will allow animal movement to and from the EU.
These confirmations recognise the high health, identification, and traceability standards聽the Stud Book and other industry measures help to facilitate and will mean there are fewer isolation, residency,聽and health requirements for thoroughbreds.
We also welcome the news of UK and Irish mutual recognition of training for competence to transport animals but recognise that some time is needed after 1 January for transporters to obtain authorisations for their people, business and vehicles to聽allow these GB transporters to move within the EU.
Therefore it remains the advice of the group not to try and move horses for聽at least聽the first two聽weeks of January unless absolutely necessary. This will allow time for agreements to聽be ratified and the new processes to be communicated to relevant officials here and聽in the EU. Industry members are advised to engage the services of a shipping agent,聽transporter and/or customs agent. Further specific advice has also been received today from the UK government relating to certain ports (see below).
The Steering Group has previously issued guidance on the likely new arrangements from 1 January. Although this industry guidance remains subject to change, participants are still urged to familiarise themselves with this information, and with the information available from the .
The easiest way to do this is via the Brexit webpage on鈥�britishhorseracing.com, where there are links to the latest government guidance as well as FAQs.聽This will be updated once we have information from the appropriate authorities.
Additionally, an e-mail address for specific queries on Brexit has been set up to assist as we approach the end of the transition period via [email protected].
Julian Richmond Watson, Chair of the鈥疶horoughbred Industries Brexit Steering Group, said:
鈥淣ews of a free trade agreement being reached is very welcome to the British horseracing industry, which trades extensively with our European partners. It remains important for our participants to have clarity on the fine detail of moving horses and people from 1 January 2021. We would ask our industry to be patient whilst the detail is worked through.
鈥淭he鈥痭ews that the General Stud Book will be recognised by the EU and that the UK has been listed as a third country聽is鈥痑lso鈥痯ositive,聽but there are鈥痵ome聽important matters on which we are still waiting for confirmation.鈥疻e聽hope that聽an FTA being signed will increase the chances of swift resolution to these outstanding issues. With little time between now聽1 January,聽a period of disruption聽is聽likely.
鈥淓ven though we now have an agreement in principle between the UK and EU鈥痺e want to ensure participants are aware that the process of moving horses will change significantly from鈥痶he end of the transition period.聽It鈥痺ill be more complex administratively and聽is聽likely聽to be聽more expensive.聽As such, we would ask鈥痯articipants鈥痶o ensure鈥痶hey鈥痑re as聽up to date聽as possible with the latest鈥痠ndustry and government鈥痝uidance and seek the聽assistance聽of a horse transport professional if鈥痶hey鈥痑re鈥痯lanning to move horses.
鈥淲e will, of course, continue to聽ask聽Government鈥痑nd other relevant parties for clarity and communicate any鈥痠nformation as soon as we are able to.鈥�
Welcoming the recognition of the General Stud Book,聽Weatherbys聽CEO Russell Ferris said:
鈥淲hilst there are still many matters to resolve as we move towards聽Brexit,聽we are naturally delighted that the聽Weatherbys General Stud Book will continue to be聽recognised聽by the EU from the 1st聽January 2021.
鈥淭he need for mutual recognition of a common, high-health status for thoroughbreds and its Stud Books is of vital importance for the International Thoroughbred industry.
鈥淭he Stud Book listing聽recognises聽the high biosecurity and animal health standards of the British Thoroughbred and whilst unregistered horses are still able to travel, there would have been many more additional steps required聽than聽for registered horses, which would have added unnecessary costs and operational issues.鈥�
In addition to working towards the end of the transition period on 1 January, the聽British聽racing and breeding industries continue to work with relevant parties in advance of the new EU Animal Health Law, which is currently due to be implemented on 21 April 2021. The UK has one of six seats on the EU Task Force for Brexit and the Animal Health Law which works with the EU Commission (DG聽Sante), EU government agencies, Chief Veterinary聽Officers,聽and stakeholders to negotiate聽further聽changes to horse movement to minimise disruption, both from 1 January 2021 and 21 April 2021.
Further information
Specific information regarding movement of equines from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural affairs (Defra):
“In the interest of protecting animal welfare, and with the possibility of traffic disruption in Kent after 1st January 2021, Defra would strongly advise equine transporters to consider using vehicles with a combined weight of less than 7.5 tonnes, enabling them to proceed to the Short Straits using the Operation Brock contraflow between J8-9 of the M20.
“If you are transporting equines in a vehicle with a combined weight above 7.5 tonnes and there is traffic disruption in Kent, Defra strongly advises against travel and if you do choose to travel you plan your journey carefully, in anticipation of the possibility of delays. These vehicles will not be prioritised to use the Operation Brock contraflow. The animal welfare of equines in transit should be a priority for all equine movements. Make sure that you have the correct authorisations and certifications to transport live animals, find out more .”
