Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that horses who were not issued with a passport at birth have their passports marked not fit for human consumption; if he will review this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32807/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Commission Regulation 504/2008, which came into force on 1 July 2009, requires that equine animals be identified with an equine identification document (passport) and a microchip. The Regulation is implemented in Irish law by S.I. No. 357 of 2011 - European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2011. This S.I. provides that if an equine animal has not been identified within six months of the date of its birth, or by the 31 December in the year of its birth, whichever date occurs later, then the equine animal cannot be admitted to the food chain. There are no plans to review this requirement at present.