Get ready for new EU animal health and welfare transport laws
last updated on October 19, 2007 12:49
Professional grooms and riders who transport horses for economic gain on journeys of more than 65km (about 40 miles) or eight hours will need to have a certificate of competence from 2008 to comply with EU Welfare in transport Regulation No 1/2005.
This was due to be implemented on 5 January 2008. However, as part of aid measures to help livestock farmers who are dealing with foot and mouth disease and bluetongue, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn recently announced that it has been agreed with UK enforcement authorities that no sanctions will be taken against transporters not in possession of competence certificates until the end of April 2008.
This applies only to journeys within the UK. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website warns that to avoid any possibility of enforcement action whilst abroad, exporters of horses must obtain competence certificates before 5 January 2008.
The basic rules are that you will need a certificate if you are:
- Transporting horses for hire or reward on journeys of more than 65km or eight hours.
- Transporting someone else’s horses for payment.
- Transporting horses for sale or to an abattoir for slaughter.
- Transporting horses as part of your business.
You will NOT need a certificate if you are:
- Transporting your own horse to a show for minor prize-money.
- Transporting horses with a ratio of one horse per owner/handler.
- Moving your horses using your own transport between pastures for a distance of less than 50km from your holding.
- Taking horses to or from veterinary practices or clinics.
- Transporting a friend’s horse in your vehicle for petrol money, providing no profit is involved.
- A “hobby breeder”, where the income from the hobby does not significantly exceed the expenditure.
DEFRA has designated three organisations to undertake assessments for competence. These are the National Proficiency Training Council (NPTC) www.nptc.org.uk, The British Driving Society (BDS) www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk and the British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust (BHEST) www.bhest.co.uk.
There are generally two levels of qualifications, which have been designed to ensure the welfare of animals:
- One for short journeys of more than 65km and up to eight hours. BHEST has developed a certificate in equine transport (CET), which consists of a theory test and costs around £120. Wiltshire-based Haddon Training is offering British Dressage members a 10% discount (www.haddontraining.co.uk). The NPTC offers a computer-generated multiple-choice test with syllabus and sample test questions at around £40.
- For those involved in journeys of more than eight hours, there is BHEST’s advanced certificate in equine transport (ACET), which includes a practical assessment of competence, including driving and animal handling skills at around £140. Some of the NPTC centres offer this. Costs vary but are around £120. The British Driving Society equivalent costs £75 for an NVQ level 3 for drivers who are non-BDS members, £65 for BDS members. They also do an NVQ level 2 for attendants at £65 for non-BDS members and £55 for members.
For more info, go to www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/transport/eu-transportreg.htm. There is also a useful “Your questions answered” section on the BDS website which has DEFRA-approved answers. Go to www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk/information/wato_faq_2007.htm to view these.
