Ireland and France’s chief veterinary officers have vetoed plans to tighten the tripartite agreement that allows free movement of horses between those countries and the UK.
The agreement was set up to allow racehorses to travel without health checks, but was broadened to include all horses not destined for slaughter in 2005.
Britain favours restricting free movement to competition horses to cut the risk of disease. But France and Ireland don’t agree. Talks will continue.
This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (28 December 2012)
