Advice issued to vets on Horse Passport Regulations
Defra and the FSA have announced that all horses slaughtered for human consumption will be sampled for the presence of phenylbutazone, with immediate effect. The organisations have also issued advice to veterinary surgeons regarding their responsibilities under the Horse Passport Act 2009.
The move comes after it was found small numbers of horses slaughtered for human consumption are testing positive for phenylbutazone, which can be harmful to human health if consumed.
Defra and the FSA have announced they are working together to investigate the cause of the positive tests, and the long-term preventative measures that could be put in place.
In the meantime they have asked for assistance from the profession in ensuring treatment is properly recorded in horse passports, issuing a letter signed by both Defra and the FSA. The letter reminds veterinary surgeons to ensure details of medicines are recorded in part III of section IX of the horse passport, and to sign the animal out of the food chain by completing and signing part II of section IX, and invalidating part III of section IX.
Mark Bowen, chair of the British Equine Veterinary Association's health and medicine committee commented: "The number of horses entering the human food chain from the UK has doubled since 2009 and is no longer an insignificant minority of horses.
"All vets should be checking horse passports and only dispensing sensible quantities of this drug, and its prodrug suxibuzone."
Click here to read the full letter from Defra and the FSA. A form is also available from the BEVA website for vets to use when emergency treatment is required and the horse passport is unavailable.
Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
