Equidae (which includes horses, ponies, asses, mules, donkeys and zebras) moving between European Union member states have to be accompanied by a health certificate and movements are recorded on TRACES (a pan European database). However, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France apply a derogation from these requirements through the Tri-Partite Agreement. TRACES therefore does not record the total number of horse movements between the UK and France.

Horses imported from France

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs record the number of horses imported from France in the last five years, based on VAT returns, as follows:

Horses licensed for export to France

The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) issue export licences for some horse movements to France, but not for thoroughbreds used for racing, breeding and training.

The number of equidae imported from third (non EU) countries and EU countries in each of the past five years is as follows (source TRACES):

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an Executive agency of the Department of Health, regulates manufacturers, importers and wholesale dealers of medicinal products for human use in the United Kingdom on behalf of the UK Licensing Authority, through a system of licences. The MHRA has no jurisdiction in any another European economic area (EEA) member states to licence their exporters of medicines.

In the UK, importers of unlicensed medicines sourced from another EEA member state must hold a wholesale dealer's licence and are legally required to notify the MHRA in advance of the importation.

The MHRA has received notifications for the importation of preservative free unlicensed Timolol (the active ingredient of Timoptol) preparations and has not objected to them. No notifications have been received for Brinzolamide (the active ingredient of Azopt).

The meeting agreed that the tripartite agreement (TPA) continues to represent an important and justified derogation from the normal EU rules for the intra-Community movement of equidae.

The meeting considered a proposal from the CB equine sector to more closely define the types of horse movements that should be covered by the TPA. Having sought the views of their own stakeholders, the French

and Irish delegations did not feel able to support this proposal. This was in part due to concerns that the proposal was too restrictive and prevented the inclusion of all horses with recognised high health status.

However, our partners in the TPA did recognise the concerns that prompted our request to review the current agreement. We have secured an agreement to continue to work with France and Ireland to develop an alternative solution. Greater emphasis will be placed on linking the TPA to existing industry initiatives, such as codes of practice which help manage disease risk.

The proactive involvement of equine sector organisations in seeking improvements to the TPA has been extremely helpful and is most welcome. Defra will report the outcome of the meeting to stakeholder groups and seek their ideas and advice on how best to continue with this work.

We constantly monitor the risk of disease incursion into the UK and in light of recent reports and our understanding of horse movements we consider there may be a low risk of certain equine diseases being imported into the United Kingdom through the movement of horses covered by the tri-partite agreement (TPA). It is therefore appropriate that we review the scope and operation of the TPA. Nigel Gibbens (chief veterinary officer) is meeting the chief veterinary officers from France and Ireland on 19 November 2012 to review the current agreements.

The Tripartite Agreement is a long-standing agreement between France, the Republic of Ireland and the UK. Under the original agreement registered equidae, usually for competition and racing, were able to move freely between the signatory countries based on shared health status. The agreement does not remove the need to comply with EU welfare in transport legislation. In 2005, due to its success, it was expanded to include equidae for “breeding and production”, covering among others ponies for leisure and has continued to work well. The agreement continues to be tripartite and only between the three signatory countries.

Romania acceded to the EU in 2007 and at present is subject to required EU restrictions on the movement of horses.

There is a balance between facilitating free trade of horses that need to move regularly and recognising the risk of importation of disease. Defra continually monitors and assesses the UK risk from disease outbreaks in the EU and beyond.