Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will issue an original horse passport as a matter of urgency to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56846/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the relevant EU and national legislation on the identification of equines (Commission Regulation No. 504 of 2008 of 6 June 2008 on the identification of equidae and S.I. No. 357 of 2011 - European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2011 as amended), the keeper of an equine can apply to the approved passport issuing organisation to replace a lost passport. This legislation provides that, where the original passport is lost and the equine’s identity can be established by reference to the micro-chip, the passport issuing body may issue a duplicate passport. However, where the original passport is lost and the equine’s identity cannot be established, the passport issuing organisation may only issue a replacement passport. In both cases, the equine must be classified in Part II of Section IX of the replacement document as “not intended for human consumption”.

I should explain that EU food safety legislation (Regulation (EC) No 854/2004) requires that only animals identified properly and with the appropriate food chain information may be placed on the market for human consumption. An equine for slaughter for human consumption must therefore be accompanied to the slaughterhouse by its passport compliant with current veterinary requirements. The use of certain animal remedies excludes equines from slaughter for human consumption. In such circumstances, the veterinary surgeon records the use of such animal remedies in the section provided on the passport.

With regard to the person concerned, he registered a foal in 2009 with a passport issuing organisation but never received the passport in the post. In accordance with national and EU legislation referred to above, the duplicate passport issued in 2012 was stamped as ‘not fit for human consumption’. Accordingly, my Department cannot issue the original passport or issue a duplicate passport to Mr. Flynn without the indication that the horse is ‘not fit for human consumption’.