The relevant legislation on identification of horses are Commission Regulation No. 504 of 2008 of 6 June 2008 on the identification of equidae and S.I. No. 357 of 2011 - European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2011.
This legislation requires that equine animals be identified with a passport and a microchip within a precise timeframe. If an equine animal has not been identified within six months of the date of its birth, or by the 31st of December in the year of its birth, whichever date occurs later, then the equine animal cannot be admitted to the food chain. There is no legal mechanism that would allow the creation of a temporary horse registration waiver scheme for factory horses that would be obtainable only at the factory gate.
The fees charged by the Passport Issuing Organisations for registration of foals have remained the same for a long number of years. The registration fee for an equine that is ineligible for a studbook is in the order of €35. There is an additional cost of a veterinary fee in the registration process. It is understood that good quality horses suitable for the food chain make in the region of €300 to €500.
Horses that are not eligible to enter the food chain may be euthanized by a registered Veterinary Surgeon or by a person licensed to slaughter equines. The carcass should then be disposed of through an approved knackery. The Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC) recommend that, in situations where an owner can no longer adequately provide for an animal or where the equine can no longer fulfil the purpose for which it was bred, owners should be proactive in seeking to dispose of the animals before their welfare is compromised, including the option of humane disposal. Such action will help prevent the emergence of long-term and severe animal welfare problems.
