DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DARD)
INTRA-COMMUNITY TRADE IN EQUIDAE FOR BREEDING AND PRODUCTION OR SLAUGHTER
TO EU MEMBER STATES
(Outside the Tri-Partite Agreement between France, Ireland and UK)
NOTES FOR GUIDANCE FOR EXPORTERS AND AUTHORISED VETERINARY INSPECTORS
1.
SCOPE
The ITAHC (2009/156) may be used for equidae for slaughter or equidae for breeding and
production.
Chapter 1, Articles 2(d) and (e) of EU Council Directive 2009/156/EC, state:
(d) “equidae for slaughter” means equidae intended to be transported either directly or after
transit through a market or an approved marshalling centre, referred to in Article 7 to the
slaughterhouse for slaughter.
(e) “equidae for breeding and production” means equidae other than “registered equidae” and
“equidae for slaughter” as defined in Article 2(c) and (d) of EU Council Directive 2009/156/EC”.
To be defined as ‘registered’, equidae must have their identification document (Passport)
issued by either:(a)
an approved organisation or association which manages a studbook or register for that
breed of animal; or
(b)
an international association or organisation which manages horses for competition or
racing.
Two Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs) in Northern Ireland fall under category (a) - the
Northern Ireland Horse Board (www.nihorseboard.org) and the Studbook for Irish and European
Sport Horses (www.studbook-ies.com).
One PIO in Northern Ireland falls under category (b) - the Show Jumping Association of Ireland
- Ulster Region (www.sjai-ur.com).
2.
PLEASE NOTE: Tripartite Agreement (TPA)
A Tripartite Agreement (TPA) is in place for the movement of horses, which meet certain
criteria, specifically between the United Kingdom, France and the Republic of Ireland. This
allows for a relaxation of the procedures required under Council Directive 2009/156/EC. Under
the TPA which was revised in 2014:

Equidae for Breeding or Production travelling between UK and Ireland can do so without
an ITAHC, provided they are accompanied by their passport, which may be issued by
any Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO).
N.B. 1 Equidae for Breeding or Production travelling to France will not be eligible under the TPA
and so will require an Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate completed by an Authorised
Veterinary Inspector, as described in these “Notes for Guidance”, and a passport issued by any
Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO).
NFG EXP/AVI (2009/156) (November 2015)
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N.B. 2 Equidae for slaughter travelling to Ireland or France will require an ITAHC completed by
an Authorised Veterinary Inspector, as described in these “Notes for Guidance”, and a passport
issued by any Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO).
3.
KEY DOCUMENTS
This document must be read and understood prior to completing and signing the Intra-trade
Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC) (2009/156).
The ITAHC may be used for one or more equidae, provided the individual passport number of
each horse being certified is entered in Part 1 Box: I.31.
4.
IDENTIFICATION
All equidae intended for intra-Union trade must be uniquely identified by a valid passport (and a
microchip in the case of equidae born or identified for the first time on or after 1 July 2009) in
accordance with Council Directive 2009/156/EC and Regulation (EC) No. 504/2008. In
Northern Ireland this aspect of the Directive and the Regulation is implemented by the Horse
Passports Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010. Section IX must be present in the passport but
does not have to have been signed before departure.
The passport number must be clearly entered in Part I Box I.31. The species, breed, age, sex
and method of identification of the animal must also be entered. The Passport must
accompany the consignment and the ITAHC.
AVIs must:
 not certify any equidae for intra-Union trade unless they have seen a valid passport which
matches the equid presented;
 check that the passport complies with the format specified in the passport legislation;
 in cases where a valid passport is not available, return the export health certificate (not
certified) to the local Divisional Veterinary Office within one working day and annotate it to
say that it could not be certified because a passport was not seen or because the passport
did not match the equid presented and inform the exporter that DARD may decide to pass
this information to the local authority.
5.
SPECIFIC GUIDANCE REGARDING CERTIFICATION
(a)
Part II Paragraph 1 - The examination referred to must be carried out within 48 hours of
loading.
(b)
Part II Paragraph 2 – This can be certified by reference to Point 1 of the Veterinary Service
support certificate which should be obtained from the local Divisional Veterinary Office.
(c)
Part II Paragraph 3 (1st sentence) – Freedom from African Horse Sickness can be certified on
the basis of Point 2 of the Veterinary Service support certificate (VSSPT) and paragraph (f) of
the Owner’s Declaration (OD).
(d)
Part II Paragraph 4 - There is no vaccine licensed for use within the United Kingdom. However,
imported vaccinated horses should have their vaccination history detailed within the official
Passports. Please refer to Point 3 of the Veterinary Service support certificate (VSSPT),
paragraph (g) of a fully completed Owner’s Declaration (OD) and the Horse Passport.
(e)
Part II Paragraph 5 – this can be certified by referring to Point 4 of the Veterinary Service
support certificate (VSSPT) and paragraph (d) of the Owner’s Declaration (OD).
NFG EXP/AVI (2009/156) (November 2015)
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(f)
Part II Paragraph 6 – may be certified on the basis of paragraph (e) of a fully completed
Owner’s Declaration (OD). For the purpose of this certification infectious or contagious disease
means any notifiable disease included in Directive 82/894/EEC that affects equines: African
horse sickness, dourine, equine encephalomyelitis (of all types, including Venezuelan equine
encephalomyelitis), equine infectious anaemia, glanders and vesicular stomatitis.
(g)
Part II Paragraph 7 – this can be certified on the basis of a satisfactory clinical inspection and
paragraphs (b) and (c) of a fully completed Owner’s declaration (OD).
6.
WELFARE
Council Regulation 1/2005 lays down the provisions for the protection of animals during
transport. The Regulation is enforced in Northern Ireland by the Welfare of Animals (Transport)
Regulations (NI) 2006 (as amended). Article 3 of the EU Regulation requires that animals must
be fit for the intended journey before the journey starts and must remain sufficiently fit
throughout the journey and that no person shall transport them in a way likely to cause injury or
undue suffering. This means that animals should be healthy enough to tolerate the entire
journey they are about to make (including loading, unloading and any journey breaks) with no or
very little adverse effect on them and that the journey should not cause the animals any
suffering or injury.
Animals not considered to be fit for transport include those that:
 are unable to move independently without pain or to walk unassisted;
 present a severe open wound, or prolapse;
 are pregnant females for whom 90% or more of the expected gestation period has already
passed, or females who have given birth in the previous week.

are new-born mammals in which the navel has not completely healed.
The certifying AVI will reject any animal where, in his or her professional judgement, there is
doubt over its fitness for the intended journey. Further detailed guidance on the fitness
requirements can be obtained from the DARD website www.dardni.gov.uk or from your local
DVO.
7.
TRANSPORTER AUTHORISATION AND VEHICLE CERTIFICATION
Articles 10 and 11 of Council Regulation 1/2005 require transporters of animals to be
authorised, and Article 18 requires that vehicles and trailers used to transport animals on long
journeys have certificates of approval.
For journeys over 65km (approx. 40 miles), transporters must:
 Hold a transporter authorisation.
 If transporting horses, farmed animals or poultry, ensure drivers and attendants are in
possession of certificates of competence (from January 2008).
 Demonstrate that they have appropriate staff and equipment to transport animals in a
proper way and to have no record of serious infringements of animal welfare legislation in
the preceding 3 years.
 Complete an Animal Transport Certificate for each journey.
For long journeys (over 8 hours) transporters must also:
 Be in possession of a long journey transporter authorisation.
 Have the vehicle used for transporting the horses inspected and approved.
 Ensure contingency plans in case of emergencies are in place.
 Complete an Animal Transport Certificate for each journey.
For further information on vehicle specification, please refer to the following link:
http://www.dardni.gov.uk/transport_vehicle_spec_livestock.pdf
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8.
JOURNEY LOG
For journeys over 8 hours the AVI must not sign and issue an ITAHC unless they have seen an
officially stamped Journey Log with the corresponding ITAHC number inserted by the issuing
DVO.
9.
COMPLETION OF ITAHC
Having completed all the checks, ensuring the ITAHC is fully completed and all the appropriate
deletions and/or additions have been made, the AVI must sign and stamp the ITAHC with the
AVI’s official stamp in ink of any colour other than black. The completed ITAHC must
accompany the consignment to its final destination.
In addition, an ITAHC printed in the language of the country of destination must
accompany the consignment to its final destination. (AVIs registered on TRACES will
have to produce their own foreign language copy.)
The date and AVI stamp should be applied to the unsigned foreign language version. The
English Parts I and II of the ITAHC must be placed on top of the MS language parts I and II,
then stapled and fan stamped together as a single certificate to accompany the consignment to
the destination premises.
10.
FORM TRACES-CONF: NOTIFICATION TO THE ISSUING DVO OF COMPLETION AND
SIGNATURE / AMENDMENT OF ITAHC
In order to meet the requirement for notification of animal movements to other Member States,
AVIs must notify the Divisional Veterinary Office that an ITAHC has been completed and
signed.
Completed copies of the following documents must be faxed to the exports section of the
Divisional Veterinary Office immediately following signature of the ITAHC:
 form TRACES Annex 5
 Part I of the ITAHC (indicating any amendments)
 completed Part II of the ITAHC
Certified Copy of ITAHCs
In cases where it is not possible to fax a copy of the original ITAHC following signature, AVIs
are strongly advised to make a copy of the ITAHC prior to completion. This copy must be
clearly marked 'certified copy' and completed with the same details as the original. The certified
copy should not be signed as an original but cancelled with the practice stamp.
11.
CANCELLATION
CERTIFICATION
OR
CHANGES
TO
THE CONSIGNMENT DETAILS FOLLOWING
Any amendments to Part I of the ITAHC, e.g. changes in identification numbers of animals in
the consignment, must be clearly indicated so that the necessary changes can be made by the
Divisional Veterinary Office before electronic validation.
If the consignment is
 cancelled, or
 its date/time of departure has changed significantly, or
 a different vehicle is used, or
 all the animals are not loaded,
the exporter must notify the issuing Divisional Veterinary Office by fax, giving details of
changes, so that a replacement TRACES message can be sent.
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Trade Branch
Room 732, Dundonald House Upper Newtownards Road Belfast BT4 3SB
NFG EXP/AVI (2009/156) (November 2015)
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