WRITTEN QUESTION P-1673/03 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Movement and ID of equidae.
Date: 2003-05-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: equidae, health certificate, health control, import, third country

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/213

(2004/C 11 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1673/03

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 May 2003)

Subject: Movement and ID of equidae

Arising from your reply of 15 April 2003 to my Written Question P-0781/03 (1):

(cid:1) Could the Commission advise whether there is an intention to pursue the investigation of the

movement of equidae at a later date and if so, when?

(cid:1) Can the Commission clarify whether the following quote refers to a specific target date i.e. months or
‘establishing identification of equidae for breeding and production into Irish and British Law

years:
respectively is well advanced but not completed’?

(cid:1) Can the Commission advise whether there are plans to review the progress of UELN (cid:1) Universal

Equine Life Number as a way of identification in conjunction with passports?

(1) OJ C 242 E, 9.10.2003, p. 176.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2003)

With reference to the question raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission would like to provide a
follow-up to its reply to Written Question P-0781/03 of Mrs Doyle (1).

A mission to follow-up the implementation of Decision 2000/68/EC (2) by Ireland and the United Kingdom
can only be scheduled for 2004, as the priorities for veterinary inspections in 2003, including issues such
as animal health and welfare conditions for imports of slaughter horses from third countries, have already
been set by the Food and Veterinary Office.

The British Government has announced that as from 31 December 2003 all equines in England will be
required to have a passport. The competent authorities are currently working on the legislation to
implement the Decision and at present are on course to meet this deadline. Northern Ireland, Scotland and
Wales will make similar legislation although at this stage it is not clear if they will be able to meet the
same deadline.

The Irish Department of Agriculture and Food has informed the Commission about the completion of the
consultation process with various interested parties on the registration of horses that are not entered in
existing approved studbooks. It is understood that new arrangements are likely to be introduced in a few
months.

The Commission is actively pursuing the introduction of an Universal Equine Live Number (UELN) for the
identification of equidae. An initial expert discussion on the Commission’s project for a review of Decision
2000/68/EC has taken place. However, further discussion will be necessary, in particular in relation to
cross-border activities of approved breeding organisations and the compatibility of the UELN with the life-
number system already established by certain breeding organisations.

(1) OJ C 242 E, 9.10.2003, p. 176.
(2) Commission Decision 2000/68/EC of 22 December 1999 amending Commission Decision 93/623/EEC and

establishing the identification of equidae for breeding and production, OJ L 23, 28.1.2000.