Cathal Crowe
Question:731. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there is a delay in having passports for foals issued; and the actions he plans to take to address same. [57069/21]
View answerTuesday, 23 November 2021
Questions (731)
Written answers
The rules regarding the identification of equines across the EU are governed by Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/429, as supplemented by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 963/2021 which came into effect on 7th July 2021.
Article 21 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/963 provides that all equine animals must be identified with a passport no later than 12 months from the date of birth of the animal and, in any event, before the equine leaves the establishment of birth for a period exceeding 30 days, except in limited circumstances.
Equine passports are issued by Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs) approved by my Department and with which my Department has on-going contact. I am not aware of any delays to the issuing of identification documents for foals at this time.