Horse passports: Minimum Operating Standards (MOpS) for Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs)

Updating Passports

64. Keepers are required to keep the following information in a horse’s passport up to date: ownership details, food chain status, microchip code and status (‘registered’ or ‘breeding & production’).

65. The regulation allows keepers to update information on UK issued passports through any UK PIO. Any updates to a passport must be endorsed and dated with the PIOs official stamp. Embossing stamps are acceptable so long as they produce a clear stamp.

66. If a stamp is used to endorse a sticker then the stamp must overlap the label onto the page. This is with the exception of updating a horse’s name and ownership details, where the PIOs stamp may be solely on the sticker so long as that sticker contains the animal’s UELN and transponder number.

67. If alterations are made to a passport, it must be clear what these mean for the food chain status of the animal. Ambiguous or confusing markings in Section II (or Section IX Part II in pre-2016 issued passports) will lead to the animal being deemed unfit for human consumption.

68. Changes of ownership notified to an organisation must be entered into Section IV or for older passports Section III of the passport where it has been provided.

69. Ownership details must not be removed from passports or deleted from records, except where the entire record is being destroyed.

70. If a transponder is inserted into a horse previously identified before July 2009, this becomes part of the animal's identity. The PIO must confirm that the transponder was inserted in line with the requirements and record the change on the passport and database. The updated record must also be recorded with ScotEquine within 1 week of creating the change in your own electronic record. A ‘new re-issue’ passport must be issued where it is not possible to add this information to an existing passport. The existing food chain status must be recorded in the ‘new reissued’ passport.

71. Where a PIO is satisfied that the updated information provided is correct they must complete any passport updates, including change of ownership, within 15 working days of receipt of all necessary information and fees. Electronic records must also be updated within 1 week of creating the record and provide ScotEquine with the relevant update.

72. It is accepted that in exceptional circumstances more time may be necessary to update a passport. If the PIO is unable to update ownership within 15 working days and there is no suspicion of fraud, a temporary document must be issued which conforms fully to the layout prescribed in Annex III of the 2016 Regulation.