Find my horse! Property identification codes and what’s next for horse traceability in Australia

Written By Emily Purvis

In contrast to companion animals and livestock, horses are largely unregulated in Australia. There is currently no legal requirement to register a horse or to have it microchipped. This can make identifying horses, their owners and their location challenging, particularly in cases of animal cruelty, ownership disputes or in the event of disease outbreak. Australia is currently working towards the implementation of a National Horse Traceability System, which will revolutionise the way horse movements are tracked and managed.

In paddocks and stables across Australia, it is estimated that between 900,000 – 1.8 million[1] horses call our sun-drenched country their home. That may strike you as a fairly broad estimate. Why don’t we have a more accurate figure on Australia’s horse population? In contrast to companion animals and livestock, horses are largely unregulated in Australia. There is currently no legal requirement to register a horse or to have it microchipped. This can make identifying horses, their owners and their location challenging, particularly in cases of animal cruelty, ownership disputes or in the event of disease outbreak. Serious diseases that affect horses can spread rapidly and cause significant harm – not only to our horses, but also to humans and the economy. The introduction of laws regarding the traceability of horses has numerous benefits but comes at the cost of increasing regulatory burden. When faced with the choice, what would you PIC(k)?

Property Identification Codes

There is already an important legal requirement to be aware of if you are a horse owner or keep horses on your property: is your property registered for a Property Identification Code (PIC) with your relevant state or territory agency? In all states except Tasmania, property owners and horse carers are required to have a PIC. A PIC is a unique identifying code allocated to your property that can assist in disease control and prevention. The requirement for properties on which horses reside to have a PIC was introduced in most states and territories following the 2007 Equine Influenza outbreak. It facilitates the rapid contact of horse owners and carers in case of disease outbreaks or emergencies. Each state and territory in Australia has its own framework for the PIC system, but the majority do not require individual horses to be identified – which means that your horse can’t be traced.

The National Horse Traceability System

Recognising the need for a unified horse traceability system, Australia is currently working towards the implementation of a National Horse Traceability System. Following a Senate inquiry into the feasibility of a national horse traceability register in 2019, a working group was formed to provide advice on its implementation. The proposed system is set to revolutionise the way horse movements are tracked and managed. Its features include:

  1. All properties across Australia on which horses reside will be required to have a PIC.

  2. All horse movements between PICs, including to vets or events if the horse will be there for longer than 24 hours, must be recorded.

  3. Microchipping will remain voluntary and there will be no national ownership register.

  4. The introduction of national rules and obligations for equine industry participants, including horse owners and carers, transporters, selling agents, processors, competition and event organisers, vets, and operators of databases and registers.

If the proposed system becomes law, industry participants will be required to generate and maintain horse movement records. For horse owners and carers, including trainers, stud masters and agistment centres, this will mean that each time a horse leaves the property (for >24 hours), this will need to be recorded electronically or in hard copy. The movement record will need to be made within 24 hours of the horse leaving the property and be promptly retrieved when requested by an authorised state/territory biosecurity officer. Additional record keeping obligations are proposed for people and associations that organise or manage horse events (including agricultural shows, race meetings, equestrian events, training clinics and pony clubs) as well as vet clinics, sales agents and horse transporters.

The United Kingdom introduced a comprehensive horse traceability system in 2018. The United Kingdom approach utilises hard copy “equine passports” and a central database (Central Equine Database) that records information about every resident horse. Horse owners are legally required to ensure that their horses’ information remains up to date on the Central Equine Database. Microchipping of horses was also made mandatory in the United Kingdom in 2020.

The recommended National Horse Traceability System will require legislative amendments in each jurisdiction and agreement on funding, so there are still a number of processes that need to occur before new laws are introduced. With a national approach to horse traceability, the industry can expect improved biosecurity measures, quicker response times to emergencies and enhanced overall management of horse health. However, it could also lead to increased record keeping for horse owners, associations and businesses. It will be important for anyone involved with horses in Australia to watch this space and be aware of their obligations when new laws come into effect. In the meantime – if there are horses on your property, make sure that it’s registered for a PIC and that all details recorded are up to date. This will enable your state or territory government to contact you quickly in the event of an infectious horse disease outbreak or natural disaster. To learn more about the PIC requirements in your state or territory, visit the website listed below.

Update August 2024

A new committee was established earlier this year to further develop the National Horse Traceability System in Australia. Members of the committee include representatives from Equestrian Australia, Racing Australia, RSPCA and other key stakeholders. The committee have met four times since April 2024 to set a work plan for the coming year and to track the progress of various projects currently underway to progress the development of the system. We can expect to see the committee’s recommendations on how to implement the National Horse Traceability System in late 2024.

[1] Australian Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee report entitled ‘The feasibility of a National Horse Traceability Register for all horses’ (November 2019).

*Information is general and not legal advice.

This article first appeared in Hoofbeats magazine December 23/January 24 edition.

 
Emily Purvis

Emily Purvis is an equine lawyer based in Perth, Western Australia. After graduating with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia, she went on to work for international law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills. In 2021, Emily combined her passion for practising law and riding horses to establish PURE Equine Law. With her top tier legal training and 25+ years of experience with horses, Emily provides clients with contracts and advice to protect against legal risks, streamline stable operations and implement best practices. Emily is also passionate about empowering the equestrian community through legal education and preventing disputes by making contracts more accessible.

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