Microchipping and Passport Applications

Legal Requirements

As of 1st October 2020, it is mandatory that all equines are microchipped and have a passport in England, Wales and Scotland. For foals, this must be done within six months of birth, or before December 31st of their first year (whichever date occurs latest).  All horses should be registered with the Central Equine Database. The Equine Identifications (England) Regulations 2018 state that a microchip may only be implanted in an equine by a veterinary surgeon.

All new or replacement passports require a veterinary surgeon to record a drawing and description of the horse, and to scan an existing microchip or implant a new one. If you require a passport to be issued by a specific breed society, then you will need to provide the appropriate paperwork for the vet at the time of the appointment. DNA samples in the form of hair plucks may be required for genetic testing by certain authorities prior to issuing the passport.

In equine passports, the owner and veterinarian are required to sign a declaration that the horse is or is not intended for human consumption. If the horse is not signed out of the human food chain, there will be restrictions in place with regards to medications that can be administered, for example phenylbutazone (‘bute’). Replacement passports will automatically be signed out of the human food chain when they are issued.