Updates
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Update: 28th May 2009
Further updates are to be posted shortly.
Aim 1: Review health and welfare standards
Achieved or On-going
- A number of responses have been received following circulation of the questionnaire requesting information on stand alone welfare statements or welfare statements in governing documents.
- Analysis of these responses has been started but there are no significant results to announce yet. Work on these responses continues.
Aim 2: Review health surveillance arrangements
Achieved or On-going
- The update on the Blue Cross Pilot Survey is now available.
- The syndromic disease (including ocular, skin, respiratory and miscellaneous conditions) is to be clarified.in order to obtain a wider range of results
- Representatives from BEVA attended the last Defra Exotic Disease Group meeting and a report will be posted in due course.
Aim 3: Review horse welfare observation arrangements
Achieved or On-going
- The World Horse Welfare Pilot Study on welfare surveillance commenced on 1st August 2008.
- Data from over 3000 welfare cases had been collected by its Field Officers at the end of April 2009 and is being entered onto a data base maintained by World Horse Welfare.
Planned
- The collection of data will cease at the end of June and analysis will be undertaken by a student working under the direction Dr Tim Parkin from the Glasgow Veterinary School and should be completed by the end of August 2009.
Aim 4: Review methods of horse identification
Achieved
- Monitoring of new legislation regarding the identification of equines
- Responding to EU proposed regulations on the identification of horses
- Additional meetings held with the National Equine Database to further the promotion of the recording of information on all horses on the National Equine Database.
- Member of Passport Steering Group since its inception - the purpose of this Defra-instigated small group is to provide the industry with the opportunity to advise and guide Defra on policy implementation and maters relating to equine identification.
- Attendance at “Implementation of the Regulation on the Identification of Equidae – Consultative Workshops”
- The formal consultation process on “the implementation of Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 of 6 June 2008 implementing Council Directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC as regards methods for the identification of equidae” closed on February 2nd 2009. The BHS responded to this consultation, a copy of the response is to be found as Annex II. The summary of consultation has not been published at the time of writing.
- Consultations in the devolved nations have been similarly responded to.
- On February 26th 2009, the BHS attended a Defra-lead consultative workshop considering the issues around communicating the new identification regulations to the public. A number of issues came out of the workshop and the BHS is continuing to work with Defra on these.
- On May 6th 2009, the BHS attended a Defra consultation session to assist in drafting guidance notes for the new legislation aimed at Passport Issuing Organisations and the public.
Information since last report
- Potentially the key stumbling block for effective enforcement of the new legislation is the lack of publicity that it has received in some sectors of the horse-owning public. It is therefore essential that those involved in the EHWS do what they can to raise awareness of the impending legislative changes as time to the implementation date of July 1st is running short.
Aim 5: Review medicines, needs and availability
Achieved or on-going
- Because the horse is classed as a ‘food producing animal’, the supply and use of veterinary medicines is controlled by both European medicines regulations designed to promote responsible safe and responsible use of medicines, and European residues regulations designed to improve food safety. BEVA requested information from members in April 2009 on what drugs equine veterinary surgeons regarded as essential for treating horses that are not licensed for horses and not on the Essentials List.
Planned
- Professor Josh Slater is currently correlating responses from 2000 members to present to the commission via FEEVA.
Aim 6: Review education, skills & training
Achieved or on-going
- External careers materials is being assessed and edited for their relevance to the equine industry which provides the opportunity to promote the importance of the duty of care and responsibility of those caring for horses for equine health & welfare
- Review of the National Occupational Standards for Farriery has commenced, in common with all other equine-based activities the health & welfare content will be strengthened and related to the duty of care
Planned
- Lantra careers website to be reviewed and the importance of duty of care and responsibility for equine health & welfare highlighted
Aim 7: Review research requirements
Achieved
- All current equine grant providers have been identified
- Types of grants awarded by each provider identified
- Grant providers communication platform initiated, discussed:
- Commission research and co-funding opportunities
- Reduce duplication and cost of administration
- Improve general efficiency
Planned
- Produce a code of practice for each grant type to include:
- Application procedure
- Screening procedure
- Monitoring process
- Evaluation
- Promotion of results
- Provide costings to establish a website for equine grant provision
- Website to include all grant providers, types of grants they offer, research funded, results, papers published
- Website to improve awareness of funded research and educate horse owners and clinicians
