Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of fines that have been issued in respect of those who have breached the new requirements on equine identification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40653/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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European Commission Regulation (EC) No. 504/2008 set out an improved system for the identification for equidae and is binding on all Member States of the European Union. It is a legal requirement since July 2009 that each equine must be identified in accordance with this Regulation. This involves the equine being implanted with a microchip and having a passport issued from an approved studbook or horse passport issuing agency, with the details relating to the animal recorded on a database maintained by the passport issuing body.

Keepers of equines must have passports for their animals in order to be eligible to participate in a wide range of events and activities across the equine sector e.g. thoroughbred breeding and racing, showjumping, competitions, shows, sales and also if certain veterinary medications are to be availed of. Equines cannot be considered for slaughter for human consumption unless they have a passport.

Officials from my Department who carry out checks of equine passports at Rosslare and Dublin ports have found in recent years near 100% compliance with the requirement for horses to be accompanied by passports; they observe that on foot of publicity campaigns undertaken by my Department in recent years there is a high level of awareness amongst those involved in the equine industry of the passport requirements. All keepers of horses, passport issuing bodies and veterinary practitioners are obliged to comply with the provisions of this legislation.

The Department's approach has been one of informing all stakeholders in the equine industry (keepers of equines, approved passport issuing bodies, veterinary representative organizations, marts/ sales where horses are transacted, etc.) through a combination of initiatives including direct correspondence and communications in the equine press of the requirement to have all horses identified. No prosecutions have been undertaken to date.