DEFRA, NED and PIO's

[Rollin]

I know that DEFRA proposed to re-instate NED and possibly to reduce the number of UK PIO's.

I have not seen anything recently in the news. I may have missed it though.

Does anyone happen to know what is happening, if I remember correctly, changes were planned for November.

 

[JanetGeorge]

PIOs have heard nothing in months (we ARE talking DEFRA - otherwise known as useless!)

 

[no_no_nanette]

They are probably more interested in culling badgers at the moment. The problem is that there seem to be very, very few people in DEFRA who know about/are interested in the horse industry and British breeding. Wasn't there a "Minister for the Horse" at one time or am I dreaming? If they still exist what on earth do they do??

 

[Rollin]

It is a family joke that I am a 'witch'. On account of my whacky predictions.

No sooner had I posted this yesterday evening, than an email arrived from DEFRA, late last night, in anon's mail box!! Honestly I had no idea beforehand. I understand the deadline for response is 'tight'.

I spent three years trying to explain to officers at DEFRA how the French passport system worked, it was hopeless. They accused me of being confused!! They should be so lucky.

I do see the benefits for breeders here in Continental Europe of having National Studs and Equestrian Federations which do so much to support breeding.

It is a great shame Britain does not have a National Stud to support all British breeds.

 

[sywell]

On Sunday 6th Oct I sat down at a WHIRDEC meeting and 4 representatives of the French sat down and said we will go through the SANCO proposals for changes to the Horse Passport Regulation 504/2008 from Brussels. I said I had not seen it and DEFRA sent it to me on the 8th which had a minor alteration that was sent on the Tuesday from SANCO which I had thanks to the French already seen. The French fully understood the changes and objected to a number changes. The representative from the German National Federation also had more information. The very short time that DEFRA have given to respond to the changes,the 21st October is really unacceptable. The changes any many and relate to the size and layout,security printing,duplicate and replacement passports. There are points regarding change of ownership where the passport has to be sent to the studbook of origin ,which knowing postal services you might be lucky to get back. There were no DEFRA people at the meeting but there was at the meeting in Lyons in 2011. I hosted the meeting in Newmarket in 2012. World Horse Identifcation and Registration D C which is related to the UELN project and the studbook database hub. I saw my first collection of Shagya Arabs at Janow Podlaski on Wednesday where a display of ridden horses and some carrigae driving.

 

[Rollin]

I agree with what you say about the deadline - totally unacceptable. This is not the first time Breed Societies/PIO's have had to respond yesterday.

It was actually someone at the French National Stud, who explained to me years ago, that whereas in France you deal with one or two people, I have for 7 years, in the UK the people at DEFRA may be specialising in Pigs this year and horses next.

I have had lots of dealings with DEFRA with regard to passport problems in France, during the same period I dealt with one person in France, I dealt with 6 different people in DEFRA. Every time they move on we start again!!

I hope you admired the Shagya Arabs. I have just had English visitors to my farm who had never seen a Shagya before. The horse one wanted 'to take home' was full sister to our approved stallion.

People are amazed at how big they are. Mine 15.3hh and 16.00hh

 

[sywell]

Issues that I am interested in are that DEFRA reply to emails and phone calls with the same speed as they expect you to respond. There is no enforcement so why bother. The Business plan they have just come up with(response by the 31st Oct) is quite comical.

 

[magic104]

Well obviously passports don't matter. Trading Standards don't take any notice of all the ads that admit no passport for equines being sold. They probably know they are about as likely to get that 5k fine as fly to the moon. Read about a builder who was prosecuted for neglecting a coloured cob in-foal mare & 9mth filly. On checking the m/chip on the mare they found she had been stolen a year or so ago. I think that alone proves the worth of having all equines passported & m/chipped & a tightening up of the passport rules.

 

[Rollin]

When we compete in France, even at small agricultural shows, youngstock shows and endurance, our horse's passports are checked and m/chips read!!! Sometimes before they are allowed off the box.

My fellow CB owners in the UK tell me they have NEVER been asked to produce a passport at a UK show.