The Horses (Zootechnical Standards) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which apply in Northern Ireland only, implement Commission Decision 92/353/EEC (OJ No. L 192, 11.07.1992, p.63) and Commission Decision 96/78/EC (OJ NO. L 19, 25.01.1996, p.39). They partially implement Council Directive 90/427/EEC on the zootechnical and genealogical conditions governing intra-Community trade in equidae (O.J. No. L244, 18.08.1990, p.55). They revoke and replace The Horses (Zootechnical Standards) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 (S.I. 1992/539).

These Regulations specify the criteria which an organisation or association must satisfy in order to become recognised by the Government for the purpose of maintaining a stud book (regulation 3 (1) and the Schedule to these Regulations). Any organisation or association which satisfies these criteria must be granted official recognition (regulation 3(2)).

Regulation 4 sets out the circumstances in which the Department must and may refuse to grant recognition to, or withdraw recognition from, an organisation or association. Any such refusal or withdrawal must be communicated to the organisation in writing.

Regulation 5 allows a person to make representations to the Department where recognition has been refused or withdrawn under regulation 4.

Regulation 6 permits a recognised organisation to divide the main section of its stud book into different classes according to the horses’ merits, but prohibits it from doing so for other purposes.

Regulation 7 specifies the circumstances in which a recognised organisation must enter a horse in the main section of its stud book.

A recognised organisation is permitted to enter a horse in a supplementary section of its stud book where that horse meets certain minimum criteria (regulation 8); to enter a horse in the main section of its stud book to take part in a cross-breeding programme (regulation 9); and to enter a horse registered in another stud book in the main section of its own stud book (regulation 10).

Regulation 11 specifies that a horse imported to another member state must be entered into the relevant stud book unless derogation has been agreed. It also sets out the requirements for entering country of birth and change of name.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared for these Regulations on the grounds that they do not impose significant burdens on existing organisations, or require such organisations to alter their existing procedures to a significant extent.