Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to (a) change and (b) eliminate the Horse Passport System.

Defra carried out a 12-week public consultation last year on Improvements to Equine Identification and Traceability in England. Subsequently Defra published the summary of results and Government response In November 2022. This report sets out Government plans to improve rather than to eliminate the current horse passport system. Notably this will include increased digitisation to make the system more efficient, accurate and easier to use for horse owners. This will better support equine traceability for disease control, equine welfare, trade and public health.