Moscow, Russian Federation, 22 November 2019 : A one-day workshop organized by the International Horse Sport Confederation (IHSC) and the OIE, with the support of the Federation of Equestrian Sports of Russia, enabled the participants to join their efforts and knowledge to understand how to facilitate the temporary international movements of competition horses.
The invited countries (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan) were those of the FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale) Group III. They are all engaged in numerous international events planned in the region (Eurasian games, world cups, international competition, challenges, children series, Nations cups). To avoid jeopardizing the health status of the countries, these movements deserve a sustainable system. National representatives of veterinary services, customs and national horse federations, together with the Eurasian Economic Commission, have discussed the related problems and issues in the region. Among them, they highlighted the need for a reliable certification of horses, laboratory capacities, biosecurity skills, how to enhance communications, infectious diseases notifications and national disease-free declarations, appropriate identification systems and traceability, border controls, as well as the importance of the inclusion of Russian language in the European health certificates for temporary importation of horses. To facilitate the traceability of horse movements, the FEI informed the participants of the upcoming launch, by mid-2020, of an electronic multifunction system connected to the horses’ microchips.
Concerns related to horse welfare during long distance transportation were also addressed (traffic congestion, unsafe unloading conditions of horses at some border posts, not appropriate border facilities in inspection posts). It was emphasized that a good planning enables minimizing the stress consecutive to long distance transport.
Outcomes of these discussions have been formalized in regional roadmaps for the three key sectors of national customs, veterinary authorities and equestrian federations, with clear objectives, activities, responsibilities, timelines and indicators agreed by the relevant parties. The participants discussed then the way forward for the implementation of the designed regional roadmap. They have been encouraged to work on its implementation.
Finally, the two alternative tools developed under the OIE- IHSC collaboration agreement, the Equine Disease Free Zone (EDFZ) and the High health, high performance horse (HHP) framework to facilitate the movements of International Competition Horses, mitigating the risk of global spread of equine infectious disease, were explained.
(For more information, see the Guidelines on the establishment, management and self-declaration to the OIE of an EDFZ and the Handbook for the management of High Health, High Performance horses, available on line).
