Both the British Equestrian Federation Board and British Horse Industry Confederation have agreed that BEF should lead an industry working party to consider the passport legislation Statutory Instrument (SI), and provide a consolidated industry view to go back to DEFRA.

The SI was released by DEFRA for the final phase of consultation on Thursday 27 March 2003. A copy of the consultation letter and draft legislation on horse passports has been placed on the DEFRA website: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/horsepassports/

Those who attended the Equine Passport, Disease Surveillance and Breeding Planning Team which produced industry recommendations for DEFRA on how the
passports legislation might be implemented, last year, have been invited to join the new working party, as well as representatives from the BEF Member Bodies. Representatives from DEFRA have also been invited to attend to ensure that the industry representatives will have immediate access to the detail of the Government position.

The working party invites comments on the SI to be sent to BEF, before 15 May 2003, by email (info@bef.co.uk) or by post (passports legislation, BEF, NAC Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2RH).

www.bef.co.uk

.