Inspectors to visit horse owners to enforce new equine traceability rules
Equine Herd Profiles are a new requirement, in which every equine (including horses, ponies, donkeys, and zebras) is linked to a physical location and a responsible person.
The Department of Agriculture has said every equine establishment will have been visited at least once “over the next number of years”, as it bids to police the traceability and welfare of horses.
DAFM inspectors will visit a number of establishments throughout 2026, including equine-only establishments and those with other species. The focus of these visits will be to engage and educate operators regarding their legal obligations in relation to equine traceability.
Enforcement measures will be taken if necessary, such as single farm payment penalties. For those not in receipt of single farm payment, such as urban horse owners, sanctions include fixed payment notices and prosecutions.
Also natural consequences for not keeping Equine Herd Profiles up to date include not being able to access supports and grants for horse owners, register for competitions, or register, sell, export or slaughter equines.
Equine Herd Profiles are a new requirement, in which every equine (including horses, ponies, donkeys, and zebras) is linked to a physical location and a responsible person, to enable tracking of movements from birth to death or export.
Agriculture minister Martin Heydon said the New Equine Herd Profiles and the Equine Census 2026 are part of his government’s action on the Wall Report review of Ireland’s equine traceability which was commissioned by the government after the documentary in June 2024 highlighted issues with equine traceability.
The documentary highlighted gross welfare abuses, and traceability issues which could compromise the human food chain, at a site in Straffan, Co Kildare, connected to Ireland's only abattoir for horses active at that time, Shannonside Foods.
The department says the new Herd Profiles and other processes now being put in place will make it extremely difficult to move an equine for horse owners outside the traceability system.
Horse owners can check their profiles, and complete horse census returns, by registering with the MyAgfood.ie website. They must ensure their profiles are up to date, by reporting movements of equines on to or off their establishments.
Equines with multiple owners (such as an owners’ syndicate) are linked to the operator of the establishment where an equine is located.
To add equines to a bovine/ovine/poultry herd number, a herdowner must contact the regional veterinary office. All others must have an Equine Premises Registration Number.
