European Parliament: A Draft Resolution to Better Regulate the Ownership and Care of Equines

The own-initiative report* on the equine industry, sponsored by MEP Julie Girling, has received the support of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) and the Federation of European Equine Veterinary Associations (Feeva). In a joint statement, the two federations congratulated the rapporteur on this initiative. The motion for a resolution, which addresses owner responsibility and equine care, has been submitted to the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, which is expected to vote on it next January.   While the FVE and Feeva generally approve of the draft report, they suggest amending the text to make some improvements and clarifications. In their view, it is particularly important to:

• emphasize that horse ownership is a long-term commitment with implications in terms of costs, responsibilities, and the care required;
• recognize that infectious diseases can affect the health and equine welfare;
• to acknowledge the lack of veterinary drugs to treat them;
• ensure that animal welfare is safeguarded during the slaughter of horses intended for human consumption in third countries.

  Thus, the two federations propose adding, in “Recital D” regarding the variety of roles horses play throughout their lives (racehorses, competition horses, working horses, research horses, domestic horses, wild animals, sources of milk and meat, etc.), that they are increasingly used in human therapy (in addition to “Recital L,” which details their use in rehabilitation). Furthermore, through forest clearing, equines also play a role in fire prevention, for example in Spain. In a new “recital,” the FVE and Feeva also recommend emphasizing the long-term costs and responsibilities incumbent upon a horse owner, given that a horse’s life expectancy can reach 35 years. This includes providing for the equine horse’s retirement and end of life care—whether it is a sport horse, a working horse, or otherwise—as soon as it can no longer be used. In paragraph 3, regarding the owner’s personal responsibility for the health and equine welfare, the FVE and Feeva wish to emphasize the importance of consulting a veterinarian, at least once a year, to provide essential preventive health care. Furthermore, owners and caretakers should be required to consult a veterinarian if they observe, within a group of equines, signs of disease, musculoskeletal injuries, or any other impairment to their health. Both federations believe the report should include a recital and a paragraph acknowledging that infectious diseases have a significant impact on equine welfare and the equine industry. The European Commission should commit to ensuring the surveillance of these diseases through national veterinary services, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and professional veterinary organizations (including FEEVA). The impact of endemic diseases (such as strangles), emerging diseases (such as equine infectious anaemia and West Nile fever), and exotic diseases (such as African horse sickness) should be recognized through the implementation of coordinated emergency plans. It should be noted that certain pathogens affecting horses can be zoonotic and infect humans, such as ringworm (endemic) or the Hendra virus (fatal). Another paragraph to be added concerns the lack of availability of veterinary drugs for the treatment of equine diseases. For a variety of reasons, and in the interest of equine welfare, efforts must continue to improve the production of and access to this essential therapeutic arsenal. Finally, the two federations wish to include a recital and a paragraph regarding animal welfare in the context of the slaughter of animals intended for human consumption in third countries. These countries must comply with all requirements in force in the European Union, particularly standards regarding transport, welfare, slaughter, food safety, and traceability. Regular EU inspections must also be scheduled. All these amendments still need to be tabled. Thereafter, the draft resolution—pending the parliamentary committee’s decision—is expected to be considered and voted on January 25, 2017. * Initiative Procedure 2016/2078 (INI): Owner Responsibility and Care of Equines, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-589.295+01+DOC+PDF+V0//FR&language=FR