BHS Scotland supports updated regulations for transporting
horses
The new Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection)
(Scotland) Regulations 2005 came into force in Scotland from
the end of January this year setting out updated requirements
for those travelling animals.
In particular, the updated regulations are intended to make
permanent an obligation for those carrying livestock and poultry
to disinfect after each journey and also fix an anomaly exempting
vehicles moving horses from full cleansing and disinfection
practices.
British Horse Society Development Officer for Scotland Helene
Mauchlen explained what this means in practice for those transporting
equines.
She said: "There is a very good map on the Scottish
Executive website that makes it very clear that each journey
cleansing and disinfection is only necessary where hoofed
animals (other than horses) or foul or poultry have been using
the same trailer or lorry as horses or ponies.
"Regulation 4 states that the transport of horses may
or may not transmit livestock diseases, so if you come from
a farm it also makes sense to make sure your wheel rims and
arches and the bottom of your trailer is clean when travelling
away from home."
Under these regulations journeys of a non-commercial nature,
a single animal accompanied by a responsible person or a pet
accompanied by its owner are exempt.
But the BHS maintains that everyone in the Scottish horse
world has a responsibility to ensure good biosecurity whatever
they are doing as diseases like Strangles are easily transported
with infected horses and on clothing.
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