Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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480. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the statutory authority under which equine breeders being asked to pay for the costs associated with the identification and registration of equines for matters such as the marking and chipping of foals carried out by veterinary surgeons approved for the purpose and the issuing of identity documents by issuing bodies approved for the purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53862/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Owners and keepers of horses are required by EU Council Directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 of 6 June 2008 to ensure that their horses are identified in accordance with the provisions of that legislation, which has been transposed into national legislation via S.I. No. 357 of 2011 - European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2011 (as amended). The relevant legislation imposes this obligation and, as a corollary, any associated cost, on the owners and keepers of equines. The fees charged by veterinarians and Passport Issuing Organisations for inserting microchips and issuing passports are a matter between the veterinarian and his/her client.