Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2026
660. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that passporting delays can result in foals being older and more difficult to handle by the time identification and veterinary processes are completed; whether any animal welfare or health and safety assessment has been carried out; and if he accepts that delays may increase risk for breeders, vets, handlers and the animals themselves. [49450/26]
View answerUnder Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (the Animal Health Law), all equines born in the European Union must be identified and issued with a passport no later than 12 months after their date of birth. Primary responsibility for ensuring that an equine is registered within the required timeframe rests with the owner or keeper of the animal.
The first stage of the registration process involves identification of the equine and implantation of a microchip. The timing of this stage is a matter for the owner or keeper. The subsequent processing of the application and issuance of the passport by the relevant passport issuing organisation takes place afterwards. Delays at that stage would not affect the age at which the horse is handled for identification and microchipping.
My Department encourages owners to commence the registration process as early as possible to ensure compliance with the statutory deadline. One reason for this is that older foals may require more handling during the identification process than younger animals. However, this is not the primary basis for encouraging early registration. Equines routinely interact with owners, breeders, handlers, veterinary practitioners, farriers and other equine professionals throughout their lives. Safe handling and management are essential requirements across the equine sector and are necessary for a wide range of activities, including veterinary treatment, farriery, training, transport, racing and other equestrian pursuits.
The handling required for identification and microchipping is comparable to that undertaken as part of the normal management of equines. Accordingly, my Department has not identified late registration as presenting a distinct or significant animal welfare, health and safety risk. Nor is my Department aware of delays within the passporting system giving rise to any significant increase in risk for breeders, veterinary practitioners, handlers or the animals themselves.
Equine registered at older than 12 months are excluded from the food chain which can make them vulnerable to neglect at the end of their lives due to the cost of humane disposal. My Department encourages timely registration to protect the welfare of the horses and continues to engage with stakeholders to promote this.
