The mandatory registration of equine establishments is an
essential step forward to improve traceability and welfare
standards, DAERA Minister said today.
The Minister made the comments as he urged owners and operators
of establishments keeping equines, including horses, ponies,
donkeys and zebras to register their establishment with DAERA to
obtain an Equine Establishment Number (EEN) before 1 February
2026.
The legal requirement was introduced under the EU Animal Health
Law and is one of a number of measures aimed at helping to
improve equine identification and traceability within the
sector. Registering is simple and free.
From 1 February 2026, all Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs)
authorised by DAERA will require a valid EEN to be provided when
an application is made for a passport, a passport update (such as
change of ownership), or a duplicate or replacement passport in
the event of lost, stolen or damaged passports. Keepers may be
unable to buy, sell, move or export an equine without a valid, up
to date passport.
Minister Muir said: “This is an essential first step
towards introducing a robust equine traceability system in
Northern Ireland. It is essential that we all work together to
protect our equine animals and support the industry at all levels
in Northern Ireland.
“Those of us who care about our equine companions
want to do the right thing and protect them from exploitation and
harm. This is the first of a number of equine traceability
measures which I plan to implement under Animal Health Law in the
time ahead.
“I strongly urge anyone operating an establishment where
equines are kept to register your equine establishments now, to
ensure that you meet the 1 February deadline.”
Anyone keeping an equine at livery or at an establishment which
they do not operate themselves, will not need to
register. It is the responsibility of the owner/operator of
the establishment to register. Owners should be certain that
the establishment where they keep their equine is registered and
will need to provide the EEN of that establishment when applying
for a horse passport or applying to update a horse passport.
Registration of equine establishments is a legal obligation under
the EU Animal Health Law, Regulation (EU) 2016/429, which came
into effect in April 2021. More information is available
at: https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-health/animal-health-law/factsheet-horses_en.
The benefits of registering include:
- Enhanced equine traceability
- Disease control and prevention
- Fraud and theft prevention
- Enhanced equine health and welfare protection
- Access to advice and guidance
For more information on Equine Identification and Traceability,
and to register an equine establishment, visit the DAERA website
at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/single-lifetime-identification-document-equines-horse-passports.
Notes to editors:
- Registration of equine establishments is a legal requirement
under Article 84 of the EU Animal Health Law (AHL); on
transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain
acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law'). More
details at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32016R0429.
- The operator of the establishment where equines are kept must
register their establishment, whether or not they are the owner
of the equines kept there.
- Further information on horse passports (called a Single
Lifetime Identification Documents under statute) can be found at:
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/single-lifetime-identification-document-equines-horse-passports.
- Questions and answers are available at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/registration-equine-establishments-questions-and-answers.
