In the event of a no deal exit, without listed status exports of equines could not take place. The UK has previously been granted listed status, but the appropriate committee of the European Commission would need to vote to list the UK again, in advance of Brexit on October 31st. We are confident the UK will continue to meet the requirements for listing.

Yes. The UK will leave the EU on the 31^st of October. Whilst the Government’s priority remains securing a deal, it is crucial that owners and businesses that wish to move equines to the EU around October 31^st are prepared to meet the additional requirements that will result from a no deal scenario. Planning may take up to six weeks.

It is the responsibility of businesses and citizens to decide what preparatory action they need to take to prepare for no deal.

We have taken extensive steps to provide businesses and citizens with advice and guidance aimed at helping to mitigate the potential impacts of no deal in good time. Our objective is to minimise disruption by taking unilateral action to prioritise continuity and stability, wherever possible and appropriate to do so.

This includes publishing 106 Technical Notices between August and October and specific supplementary guidance since then

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, then equine owners will be required to make sure that their animal meets the requirements for travelling to the EU from a third country, as we will no longer be a part of the EU.

This means that owners will need to make sure all equines being moved to the EU from the UK;

-       are tested for the absence of certain diseases within 30 days or less of their travel date;

-       meet the residency and isolation requirements of movements to the EU from a listed third country;

-       have the right documentation for travel, which will be an Export Health Certificate and in most cases a Government issued ID document

-       enter the EU via an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP)

 

The testing requirements and additional veterinary time needed to prepare an equine for travel are likely to result in additional costs for owners. Exact costs will vary between vet practices.

There will be no cost for the identification document, where this is needed.

There is no charge for the Export Health Certificate, but you’ll need to pay for your vet’s services.

The Commission listed the UK in Sanitary Group A in preparation for a no deal exit on April 12^th. Although the UK’s listed status will need to be voted on again ahead of a no deal exit on October 31st, placement in Sanitary Group A would mean equines would need tests for:

·         equine infectious anaemia within 30 days of travel for permanent moves

·         equine infectious anaemia within 90 days of travel for temporary moves under 90 days of equines registered with a national branch of an international body for sporting and competition purposes

·         equine viral arteritis within 21 days of travel for uncastrated male equines older than 180 days, unless they meet other specific vaccination requirements specified in the Model Health Certificate. These can be found in EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2018/659.

This will depend upon the blood test. Tests must be taken within a certain number of days of travel, dependent on the type of move being undertaken. If an equine travels from the UK to the EU again within this time period, tests will not need to be re-taken.

APHA has undertaken recruitment to ensure that sufficient resource is in place to maintain current testing times for EVA and EIA, as well as the additional diseases that might need to be tested for should the UK be assigned to sanitary group B. APHA Weybridge will endeavour to put all submissions up to test on the next available test run. The maximum turnaround time for EVA testing is 12 working days and for the current EIA test (Coggins test) the maximum turnaround time is 5 working days.  These maximum times are to allow for re-testing where necessary. 

In the event of a no deal exit, without listed status exports of equines could not take place. The UK has previously been granted listed status, but the appropriate committee of the European Commission would need to vote to list the UK again, in advance of Brexit on October 31st. We are confident the UK will continue to meet the requirements for listing.

No. Sampling can be carried out by any qualified veterinarian. But blood samples should be sent to the APHA laboratory in Weybridge for analysis.

However, only an Official Vet can authorise your equine for travel and issue the documentation needed for travel.

Yes. The requirement would apply to all equines entering the EU, including movements to Ireland and France previously made under the TPA. This is because this is a current EU requirement for all equines entering the EU from a third country.

Equines originating in the EU travelling directly to the UK (or returning to the UK directly from the EU) will not need to enter the UK via a border inspection post.

The EU lists all BIPs and the products they are approved to handle on its website. This list will be updated prior to EU exit, so you should check regularly for new information.

In preparation for a no deal exit on April 12^th, the EU approved a number of new equine BIPs. These included Calais, Eurotunnel and Dublin Port. These approvals only applied in a scenario where the UK left the EU on April 12^th. A further vote of the relevant EU committee will be needed ahead of Brexit on October 31st to approve these BIPs.

It is important to note that BIPs are approved separately for registered equines unregistered equines (classified as ungulates). Many, but not all, BIPs are approved for both. You should ensure that your travel plans allow you to enter the EU via an appropriately approved BIP. 

As referenced in more detail below, the lack of recognition of UK studbooks by the EU may affect which BIPs you can travel via.

In order to comply with pre-export isolation requirements for permeant exports or the temporary export of unregistered horses, owners will need to ensure that their equine is kept apart from other equines not of an equivalent health status for 30 days before export.

Owners are unlikely to be able to know with any certainty whether other equines attending a competition are of equivalent health status or not. You should therefore avoid these situations to ensure that isolation requirements are met and an export health certificate can be issued.

These requirements do not need to be met to temporarily export a horse registered with a national branch of an international body for sporting or competition purposes for less than 90 days. 

If the UK agrees a deal with the EU, then the process for moving equines from the UK to the EU will continue in the same way as now, including movements made under the TPA during any agreed implementation period.

The Department for International Trade has published draft information on the tariffs that will be levied on imports from the EU in the event of no deal. This information confirms that it is not the Government’s intention to levy any tariffs on equines entering the UK from the EU.

You should consult the HMRC guidance for exporters for information on other changes to process such as VAT.

Current EU tariffs indicate that charges of up to 11.5% could be payable on the export of certain (non-breeding) equines exported to the EU. Note however that these tariff rates could change ahead of October 31^st.

You will need to follow all relevant EU customs procedures in the event of no deal. The HMRC guidance for exporters provides links to the relevant EU information on these systems.

Before exporting, businesses must:

• register for an Economic Operator Register and Identification (EORI) number (if you have not been assigned one automatically).
• be aware of potential EU trade tariff changes
• find out the commodity code for your goods
• choose the correct customs procedure code (CPC) for your goods
• check the wider HMRC guidance for exporters

The EHC will replace the Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC) for exports to EU countries.

Before an EHC can be issued, equines will need to have been tested and found free of certain disease (see above).

For full details on Export Health Certificates and how to get one visit gov.uk.

For each journey the Export Health Certificate should clearly show the equine’s country of destination if this is different to the country of entry.

Official Veterinarian (OV) is the term used to describe veterinarians who perform work on behalf of the governments. In Great Britain they are also private practice vets. EU law requires that they sign export health certificates to authorise that the relevant animal health requirements have been met ahead of export.  OVs are authorised by the Government for the specific work they undertake on its behalf.

If you need to find an OV you can:

o    Check the list of professionals who can certify export health certificates

o    ask at your local veterinary practice or vet

o    email csconehealthovteam@apha.gov.uk (if you’re in Northern Ireland contact DAERA

Equines registered with a national branch of an international body for sporting or competition purposes will be able to travel using existing industry issued ID documents. All other equines will require a Government issued ID each time they move from the UK to the EU. This will change if the EU recognises the UK’s studbooks and breed societies.

You will apply for your Government issued ID from APHA at the same time as your export health certificate. Details of this process are available on Gov.uk.  

In the event of a no deal exit, without listed status exports of equines could not take place. The UK has previously been granted listed status, but the appropriate committee of the European Commission would need to vote to list the UK again, in advance of Brexit on October 31st. We are confident the UK will continue to meet the requirements for listing.

The UK has applied to the EU for recognition of the UK’s studbooks. The EU is yet to formally respond to this application and we are advising owners and businesses to plan on the basis that the studbooks won’t be recognised on day one. We will issue further guidance should this change.  

If UK studbooks are recognised, equines in those studbooks will no longer require Government issued ID documents in order to travel from the UK to the EU.

The EU has specific export health certificates for ‘registered horses.’ These health certificates have less onerous requirements than those for unregistered equines.

At the moment, only horses registered with a national branch of an international body for sporting and competition purposes are eligible for these certificates. If the EU recognises the UK’s studbooks, horses in these studbooks would become eligible to use the EHCs for ‘registered horses’ and benefit from the less onerous requirements

EU BIPs are approved for registered equines and unregistered equines (classified as ungulates) separately. Until the EU recognises the UK’s studbooks, equines in UK studbooks will not be able to utilise BIPs solely approved for registered equines.

Yes, if a horse holds a passport issued by a recognised studbook in an EU country (e.g. Weatherbys Ireland) it will be conceded as registered by the EU and can follow the same rules as a UK horse registered with a national branch of an international body for sporting or competition purposes (or a horse in a UK studbook should these be granted EU recognition).

 

The EU would no longer recognise specific transport authorisations issued in the UK that may be required for transporting live animals. Transporters wishing to move live animals from the UK to the EU would need to appoint a representative within an EU country and apply to their relevant government department to obtain a valid Transporter Authorisation, Certificate of Competence, Vehicle Approval Certificate and, where necessary, a Journey Log.

                    

Journey logs would need to be obtained from the EU country that is the initial point of entry into the EU for export. Exporters would need to present their transport documentation at a Border Inspection Post in the EU.

 

UK-issued transport documentation would remain valid for transport within the UK only.

Currently, when transporting equines within the EU, transporters are required to hold the following documentation:

-          Valid Transporter Authorisation (Renewed every 5 years)

-          Valid Certificate of Competence (Valid for life)

-          Valid Vehicle Authorisation (Renewed every 5 years)

-          Have logged a ‘Journey log’ (Required for every international movement but not for registered horses)

 

Vehicle Authorisations and Driver Certificates of Competence need to be obtained before a transporter is issued with an Authorisation.

 

In January 2018, the European Commission confirmed that in the event of a no deal scenario when the UK exits the EU, they will no longer accept Transporter Authorisation, Certificates of Competence or Vehicle Approval Certificates issued by the UK authority.

 

Any transporter wishing to transport live animals into the EU will need to obtain new transport documentation issued by one of the EU27 Members States, which will then be valid in all Member States’ territories. The length of time it will take to obtain authorisations will vary between Member States though in the UK a fully completed application is processed within 10 days.

 

-          UK transporters wishing to transport live animals in the EU would need to appoint a representative within an EU country and apply to their relevant government department to obtain a valid Transporter Authorisation, Certificate of Competence, Vehicle Approval Certificate and, where necessary, a Journey Log;

-          If Journey logs are required, they would need to be obtained from both APHA and the EU country that is the initial point of entry into the EU for export. Exporters would need to present their transport documentation at a Border Inspection Post in the EU;

-          UK-issued transport documentation would remain valid for transport within the UK only.

In the event that we leave without a deal, the EU has introduced a law which will ensure that 99% of journeys between the UK and the EU will continue as they are now, and will not need a permit, until at least 31 December 2019.

The European Commission has proposed extending the contingency regulation to 31 July 2020. The UK Government has welcomed this proposal, which will need to be ratified by the European Parliament and European Council.

Under the regulation, all point-to-point journeys between the EU and the UK will continue to be permit-free, with up to 2 cross-trade or cabotage (i.e. domestic movements of goods in an EU country by a UK transporter) movements allowed in a 7-day period.

The only journeys that will require an ECMT permit will be journeys through the EU to non-EU countries such as Switzerland or Ukraine, or journeys involving 3 cross-trade movements in a 7-day period.

For more information on DfT requirements, please check the advice available here.

No, but commercial movements are broadly defined. If the activity being undertaken involves any direct or indirect financial activity then a permit is likely to be required.

You should consult the latest information published by HMRC for detail on the changes to travel for individuals in the event of no deal

Yes. UK issued transport documentation will still be valid for transport within the UK.

It is not a requirement of Council Regulation EC No 1/2005 for vehicles to be registered in a particular EU member state in order to obtain a Vehicle Approval Certificate in that member state. We suggest though that you discuss your application with the relevant member state in advance to obtain any necessary advice and guidance.   

Defra is working on contingency plans to minimise disruption to animal transit in  the event that we leave the EU without a deal. They are working with APHA to ensure transporters have robust contingency plans in place ahead of travel. These should include avoiding high risk routes and identifying contingency premises for resting the animals in the event that delays are encountered. However, anyone transporting animals must ensure that they are transported in conditions suitable for the species concerned. Regulations include a duty of care obligation for the person acting as transporter, which states: “No person shall transport animals or cause animals to be transported in a way likely to cause injury or undue suffering to them”.

The rules relating to the import of equines from the EU to the UK will not change in principle as a result of no deal. Horses which currently enter the UK from France using a Commercial Document (DOCOM), or travel from Ireland without any animal health documentation, there would be no immediate change to the current entry documentation. Registered horses travelling from the EU will also continue to be able to do so using health attestations.

Equines originating in the EU will not have to enter the UK via a Border Inspection Post

The process for notifying the APHA/DAERA of imports will change, however. Notification will still be required for those equines that currently require it – e.g. those travelling with ITAHCs or DOCOMs. You can find out more about this here.

Yes. If a registered horse from the EU is imported using documentation that proves when it left the EU, it will be able to utilise the specific export health certificate for re-entry into the union. This precludes the need for blood tests, residency or isolation. Whilst these horses are eligible for entry without documentation (or with a DOCOM if coming from France) without a veterinary attestation they won’t be able to make benefit of this simplified return process.

Importers will also need to comply with UK customs procedures. In some cases importers may want to register for simplified import procedures. Information from HMRC on customs procedures in the event of a no deal exit from the EU are available here.

Owners regularly moving the same equine between the UK and EU may wish to consider applying for an ATA Carnet to further streamline customs procedures. More information is available here.

The UK is not altering the animal health rules for the import of equines on day one in the event of a no deal. The rules for entry into the EU are set by the European commission and applied by the receiving member state. You may wish to consult the authorities in the receiving country for further information about entry into the European Union.

The UK will no longer be a party to the Tripartite Agreement (TPA) when we leave the EU. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal then all equines being moved to the EU will need to meet the same requirements in order to travel.

The government are working closely with the equine industry to develop a longer term replacement for the TPA and will continue to work with the European Commission to negotiate future arrangements for equine movement.

No. HHS is an industry led proposal of which Government is supportive. It’s for the EU to decide whether to accept the proposal or not but in any event it will not come in on day one. Once we leave the EU, all equines will have follow the same processes, regardless of which EU country they are travelling to.