If you are planning to travel your horse from Great Britain to the EU, Northern Ireland or to non-EU countries you need to apply for an Export Health Certificate . This is a complex form which needs to be completed on the day the horse travels by an Official Veterinarian or OV, when he or she also has to carry out a full clinical examination on the animal to certify that your horse is fit and free from infectious disease. The OV also has to certify that the horse has not been in contact with any other horses that have been ill and has to obtain a signed declaration from the owner to support this and also that the horse has been in GB for the previous 90 days. All horses travelling have to be blood sampled to see if they have had any exposure to Equine Infectious Anaemia, this is called a Coggins test and has to be carried out within 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. Another blood test for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) must be taken within 21 days of travel for uncastrated male equines older than 180 days, unless they meet EVA vaccination requirements. The OV must also ascertain that the transport vehicle has been cleaned and disinfected prior to loading. It is crucial to plan any overseas travel well in advance so that the necessary blood tests can be organised, an OV can be nominated and you can apply for the EHC from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) via the Gov.UK website. At Peasebrook, two of our vets have OV status and we are fully up to speed with the paperwork!
The professional horse transporters now have to have a long list of paperwork in place to travel horses to the EU and NI including vehicle approval certificates, WATO’s which is a certificate of competence, journey authorisation certificates type 1 or 2, dependent on journey distance/time and a written contingency plan. Using a professional transporter is the best plan in these early post Brexit times until the process has become established and many of them will apply for the EHC on your behalf if required.
The Gov.UK website is the first port of call for guidance on the EHC application process and they also have contact details for the APHA. If you have any problems, please call Lorna in our office and she will do her best to help you!