The Government has issued advice to equine owners and equine businesses to explain how the process for moving equines from the UK to EU countries would change after 31 October 2019 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal in place.
Owners will need to take steps to prepare for a potential no deal and should consult a vet at least six weeks ahead of when they are intending to move their equine to the EU.
This is because if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the UK will automatically become a third country after 31 October. We have made an application to be a listed third country and depending on the third country sanitary category assigned to the UK for equines, equines entering the EU from the UK will be required to undergo blood tests within 30 days or less of travel to prove the absence of certain diseases.
There would also be changes to the documentation required for an equine to move to the EU from the UK.
If the UK is not granted listed status by the EU and becomes an unlisted third country, then no equines will be able to move from the UK to the EU.
For the latest guidance from Defra visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-horses-and-ponies-special-rules
Article updated 27 September 2019.