Report of Meeting of Equine Committee held in Backweston on 25 September 2012.
Attendance: Dept: Martin Blake, CVO; S Gaynor SVI and K. OConnor
A Corbally HSI; Dr. V Duggan, Vety. Ireland; D Black ECNI; J Guy DARDNI; N Hannon, Irish Harness Racing Club; J OConnor ITBA; and D. Leadon IEC. (Apologies E. Hatton ITM and A. Munnelly BBA Ireland Ltd)
Item 1: Minutes of meeting of 16 December 2011
The minutes were agreed.
Item 2 : Matters arising
The Group was informed that IEC had tendered successfully for Equine Disease Surveillance Project.
Mr. Blake referred to the EVA policy review outlined by Mr Pat Brangan (who has since retired) at the last meeting and confirmed that provision is made within the new Animal Health and Welfare (AHW) Bill to develop a policy.
Item 3: Disease Update
CEM in Galway stud
Details of an outbreak of CEM were provided by Mr. Blake. A non-thoroughbred stallion (of a jumping pedigree) imported from NL in 2009 had tested positive for CEM on a test for export of semen in April 2012 despite having tested negative in each of the years since 2009. There was a second stallion on the premises which tested positive a week later. 71 mares covered by AI were tested and all were negative. A full epidemiological enquiry did not identify a specific source but the fact that the second stallion tested positive on the premises would indicate recent transmission on the premises.
In the discussion on this item, Mr Leadon said that CEM was considered endemic in NL. He said that the west of Ireland outbreak was, in his view, indicative of the threat posed by AI. He said he was aware from his attendance at the recent meeting of Thoroughbred Code of Practice Committee in Newmarket, that consideration was being given to the deregulation of CEM in the UK – the thoroughbred industry would actively discourage such a move.
Mr OConnor enquired whether it would be possible to get a figure for numbers of mares tested for CEM as a means of quantifying non-adherence to the codes of practice (COP). The Department undertook to seek to establish these figures.
The recently launched HSI code of practice which includes CEM was welcomed. Ms Corbally explained that the code was a simplified version of the TB version, which would be developed further as required and has received a positive reaction from stallion owners. Mr Leadon said that ideally there should be a single code for TBs and Non-TBs and also suggested that the code should be made mandatory or alternatively adherence should be encouraged through registration of pedigree progeny. Registration agencies might be required to have sight of test results for sire and dam before agreeing to register. It was pointed out that, while the suggestion might have some merit, EU rules required progeny of registered sires and dams have an entitlement to registration in the stud book. Mr Blake concluded the discussion indicating that he would consider the establishment of a sub-committee to focus on all the aspects of this complex area.
EVA
Mr Blake referred to the issue concerning EVA discussed at the previous meeting and said he anticipates that the new Animal Health and Welfare (AHW) Bill will provide the opportunity to vary the current policy. Mr OConnor reiterated his view that serious consideration must be given to enhancing animal controls through legislation particularly in respect of requiring health assurances in respect of stallions prior to the commencement of the breeding season.
Mr Blake said that the Department is looking into the possibility (legal and IT aspects) of a register/database to record change of ownership and that further details would be available for the next meeting.
EIA
Ms Gaynor gave details of an outbreak of EIA inGermany traced to a horse used for blood donation. The horse had been used for blood donation since 2009. 600 animals that had received blood donations had tested negative, and a further 2000+ animals that had been in contact with the donor are being traced. An extract from the Veterinary Record on outbreaks of EIA across Europe was circulated.
Contingency Planning
Ms Gaynor gave an update on the current state of play as regards contingency planning for equine disease outbreaks. Such contingency is a requirement of the Directives 92/35 (African Horse Sickness) and 92/119 (Vesicular Stomatitis). The contingency plan has been significantly developed, but further progress is dependent on resources and other priorities. It was pointed out that lack of premises registration and vaccine were a major hindrance to AHS control in a recent AHS simulation exercise held in NL.
Item 4.Equine Premises Registration/Information on Horse Identification etc.
Information on the numbers of equine premises registered since the requirement became law on 1 May 2012 was given to the group. The response to date has been disappointing and members were asked to encourage their constituent groups to register so as to facilitate good disease control in the event of an outbreak.
On equine identification, the Department is considering the development of a central database for horse identification to facilitate animal tracing, identification checks and the notification of change of ownership. This approach was generally welcomed by the group who consider that the variety of passports has the potential to confuse. It was suggested that if the number of passport agencies could be capped, it would enhance controls. Mr Hannon informed the group about his organisation- the Irish Harness Racing Club - of which there are some 500 members throughout the country. They travel to NI, Scotland and Wales for racing events. The Club has a full traceability system in place and would be prepared to share details of Irish registrations with the Department if a written request was received from DAFM.
Item 5: Tripartite Agreement
Mr Blake advised the group that he would be seeking views from across the equine industry relating to the continuing validity, scope and working arrangements of the Tripartite Agreement (TPA) between the United Kingdom, France and Ireland. He explained that the Equine Trade Directiveallows us to derogate from requirements for inspection and certification upon movement between the three parties subject to certain mutual arrangements as regards notification of disease outbreaks etc. The original TPA related exclusively to ‘registered’ horses (i.e. horses registered in stud books or registered to any international association or organisation which manages horses for competition or racing), however with the advent of compulsory identification of equidae and the requirement for all equidae to have passports, there has been a blurring of the distinction between registered and non- registered equidae such that all equidae with passports (except those destined directly for slaughter) are moving freely within the TPA areas without pre-export veterinary inspection or health certification.
A meeting of the Tripartite Countries, is scheduled for November to review the operation of the agreement, reflect on its continued validity and its scope. Mr Blake outlined the proposed options that are due for discussion and said he would write to the stakeholders in the matter within days.
Item 6: Animal Health and Welfare Bill – State of Play
The group was updated on the state of play of the Bill. It is moving into Committee stage having been introduced and passed through the Seanad. Some members of the group have concerns regarding aspects of the Bill (relating to the practice of breaking horses/ presumption of ownership of animals) and will make a submission to the Department outlining their concerns. It was explained that normal farming practices are not being banned – rather such practices done for purposes of exhibitionism would be banned.
AOB:
To assist HSI in assessing the value of the non-TB industry, the Department undertook to check whether a distinction could be made by the CSO between different types for horses (TB, non-TB & ponies) in the farm survey. The grouping together of all horses in this regard was not conducive to good statistics. The absence of export statistics also hampers the assessment. Mr Guy informed the meeting that DARD has some data on exports of horses through Larne.
Next meeting to be held early in New Year