The law requires all horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and zebras to have a passport and the correct ownership to be recorded within 30 days of any ownership transfer. This has been law since 2005 but since July 2009 the law has been updated by the EU (Commission Regulation EC 504/2008), with the details provided in the legislation shown below. There are some variations in the law depending on whether you live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. In each case you will need to read Commission Regulation EC 504/2008 as well as the legislation listed for your country.

From 1st January 2016 Commission Regulation 262/2015 comes into effect. As a result of this new legislation for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is also expected in 2016.

European Union

• Commission Regulation EC 262/2015

England

• Horse Passport (England) Regulations 2009

• 2009 DEFRA Guidance Notes

Scotland

• Horse Identification (Scotland) Regulations 2009

Wales

• Link to Welsh Assembly pages

NORTHERN IRELAND

• Link to Department of Agriculture & Rural Development

Misc.

• Trading Standards

VETERINARY SURGEONS

• Horse Prescriptions