The Horse Identification (Scotland) Regulations 2009

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision in Scotland for the enforcement of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 504/2008.

These Regulations revoke and replace the Horse Passports (Scotland) Regulations 2005. They also revoke the Horse Passports (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007.

They provide for identification of horses by means of an identification document which is to be linked to an animal by an electronic microchip. The microchip contains a unique life number which will be recorded on the identification document and within a National Equine Database.

Part 1 of the Regulations extends the rules on equine identification to include zebra and other exotic Equidae not previously covered.

Part 2 of the Regulations creates offences for breach of provisions of the Commission Regulation, and provides for the administration of veterinary medicinal products for horses intended for human consumption.

Part 3 provides that the Regulations are enforced by the local authority, except in certain specified circumstances, and confers powers on inspectors.

Breach of the Regulations is an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine up to the statutory maximum or three months imprisonment, or both. On indictment the penalty is an unlimited fine or two years imprisonment, or both (regulation 23).

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and placed in the Scottish Parliament Reference Centre. Copies can be obtained from the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, Pentland House, 47 Robb’s Loan, Edinburgh, EH14 1TY.