Horse passports

Growing confusion over passports

All horses should have passports but thousands don’t, owners risk prosecution and the law still has riders baffled

Spot checks reveal missing passports

Random passport checks carried out by Trading Standards officials have revealed that some horse owners are breaking the law by not owning the mandatory horse passports

Passport law baffles regional inspectors

Confusion continues to surround the enforcement of the government's equine passport legislation, with the definition of a “competition” proving a stumbling block

Spot checks highlight passport confusion

Confusion is rife over when passports should be carried with the horse as local authorities step up spot checks on horse transport

Final push to save Welsh hill ponies

Breeders of feral Welsh Mountain Ponies are calling for a new set of passport regulations, similar to those for ponies living wild in the New Forest and Dartmoor

Passport threat to auctions recedes

Horse auctions are reporting a recovery in the number of horses offered for sale, while horse owners in Scotland have until August to obtain their passports

Horse passports become law

Up to half of the estimated equine population of Britain may remain without passports as the new law governing the documentation comes into force

Passport deadline looms large

The last minute rush for passports is now on with some passport-issuing organisations offering to turn around passport applications before the end of February deadline

Don't panic about passports, says PHS

Passport-issuing organisation the Pleasure Horse Society is promising to turn around passport applications in time for the 28 February 2005 deadline

Database adds to passport pressures

The National Equine Database is adding to the considerable pressure on Passport Issuing Organisations by asking them to submit all their records by 2 August

Passports still in arrears

As another deadline passes, passport issuing organisations are capitalising on confusion – and providing a service

National Equine Database contract awarded

Defra has awarded a two-year contract to administer the National Equine Database to an Oxfordshire-based firm

Final changes to passport regulations

The final horse passport regulations have gone before Parliament, with welfare groups delighted by a change to the "slaughter for human consumption" declaration

Owners slow to apply for passports

Horse & Hound has revealed that less than 20% of Britain's equine currently have passports, leading to concerns about a last minute rush

Passports to raise £3m in "stealth tax"

Campaigners are condemning the decision to charge VAT on equine passports, following concerns that some PIOs will be forced to raise prices

Passport confusion continues

Differences in the rules governing certification of passport in England, Scotland and Wales will create further headaches for horse owners

DEFRA allows freeze-mark IDs

Some PIOS are now accepting the silhouette on documents such as freeze-marking papers, Joint Measurement Board certificates and five-stage vet certificates for passports

Confusion reigns over passport IDs

DEFRA has confirmed that silhouettes on vaccination certificates and five-stage vetting certificates can be used in passports, negating the need for a further vet visit

H&H quizzes Alun Michael

Read the full transcript of Horse & Hound's recent interview with rural affairs minister Alun Michael and DEFRA official Alison Reeves on issues surrounding passports

Passport costs set to rise

Owners will no longer be allowed to complete the silhouette section of their horse's passport application after 31 January leading to a rise in costs