Horse Passports not effective enough

More work needs to be done to track horses
 properly says RSPCA

The recent supermarket Horse Meat Scandal has rocked the Equestrian Community. As more stringent measures are being called for in an attempt to monitor the illegal and inhumane treatment of Horses for the food trade, animal rights charity RSPCA says it is concerned about the usefulness of the horse passport system, which aims to keep track of horses for disease control.
​
It has found that three quarters of the horses they take in do not have passports and are not microchipped, which is a legal requirement.
A lack of enforcement means that owners don't keep passports updated.

This makes it much more difficult to track down those responsible if there are concerns about horses' welfare.

RSPCA equine co-ordinator Cathy Hyde, said:  "The passport system is failing and a shocking 75 per cent of horses coming into RSPCA care are not microchipped. 

"Horses can change hands for a small amount of money and end up in the hands of irresponsible owners and traders."
They are calling on the Government to take the issue more seriously.