Export and I&R control

Recently it has become apparent that there are quite a few problems with the export of horses and ponies regarding I&R control. The working instruction of the NVWA is clear, but many people in the field are not well informed about the new working method or ‘think it's not that big of a deal’. This creates major problems, because export certification cannot proceed at that time. This is because if the I&R of a horse or pony is not in order, it cannot be fixed on the spot or quickly.

The rules apply not only to professional horse farms, but also to the hobbyist with only one horse or pony.

Therefore, we list again the most important rules from the work instruction:

The OD (official veterinarian) checks the following:

• That the animal comes from a registered or approved establishment (Note: the departure address must therefore have a UBN).
• upon request, the applicant shall provide the UBN(s) of the establishment(s) where the equidae have resided during the 30 days prior to the proposed movement for a check in the I&R database.
• For animals imported into the Netherlands, which are not yet in the I&R database, the Traces certificate or Common Health Entry Document (GGB) must be presented.
• That the horse's chip number matches the number in the identification document.
• That, if no chip number is present, whether it is allowed given date of passport issue and age of animal (Equidae in the European Union born after July 1, 2009 must have a chip. Did the equine get a passport before July 1, 2009, but no chip? Then it must have a passport with a completed descriptive and subscribed sketch in the passport. A chip is then not required. This is common with foreign horses. Are the chip and both sketches missing? Then the horse must still have a chip and may not go to slaughter for human consumption.)
• that the identification document belongs to the horse in question and that therefore the markings, hair color, sex, sketch and/or photos described are in agreement (Note: from the Netherlands, a foal up to 9 months of age can accompany its mother without an identification document)
• the keeper's declaration provided for completeness, signature of the keeper and whether this declaration corresponds to the animal(s) in question.
• That the correct, and corresponding to the identification document, medication certificate is present or the animals have been vaccinated against African horse sickness. Vaccination is prohibited within the EU, but may occur in horses from third countries or that have resided outside the EU.

We ask attention here once again, to ensure that horses and ponies can be identified without problems at the export certification moment by NVWA. And we as horse exporters/freight forwarders can get the animals to their final destination with care and the least possible loss of time.

Source: Press Release