Hosted by Horse SA https://www.horsesa.asn.au

1. iStock
Let’s chat:
Potential
horse
traceability
register
Oct 22, 2019

2. A traceability register links
1) a single responsible person with
2) a single uniquely identified horse. (The horse ID method could be a
microchip).
3) The human and horse ID then links with the horse’s documentation,
stamped with a Universal Equine Life Number (UELN).
4) These three IDs can be, in Australia, linked with a geographical location,
the Property Identification Code.
Triangulation of this Alpha Numerical data is the foundation of a register,
fulfilling the ‘one step forward and one step back’ definition of traceability
throughout the life of the horse, safeguarding their welfare.
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4. The Senate discussed the following as early
identified areas (prior to report)
1. Biosecurity
2. Food safety
3. Animal welfare
4. Human welfare
5. Crime/fraud deterrent
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5. Biosecurity
Federal Government: Border security- quarantine
Biosecurity Australia http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity
Animal Health Australia- AUSVETPLAN
https://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/our-
publications/ausvetplan-manuals-and-documents/
The horse industry role in disease response is linked to the Horse
Industry Levy Act
State Government
https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/animal_health/horses
PIC, notifiable diseases e.g. Strangles
Review of SA Biosecurity Act now underway
https://pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/biosecurity_act
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6. Food safety
Horses processed for human consumption for export need to meet certain
requirements.
Rules include:
• Animal welfare
• Identification
• Traceability
• Residue testing (levy $5 per horse)
The recent 7.30 report, and subsequent investigations is on the pathway to
informing the wider public of what is expected.
EG
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/export/controlled-goods/meat/elmer-3/eu-
animal-welfare-requirements#q4-do-all-consignments-of-animals-destined--
for-the-eu-market-need-to-be-assessed-at-the-time-of-unloading

7. Animal Welfare
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Animal welfare is intertwined with many of the
other reasons to have a register e.g. biosecurity or
in relation to slaughterhouse standards.
For the first time one responsible person per
horse, identifiable throughout the horse’s life.
This will aid prosecutions for poor welfare, as
owners can be quickly identified on property, or in
other regulated areas, such as transport.
A register enables (opt-in) educational messages
to reach hard to get to groups in the community.

8. Human Welfare
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How a register helps human welfare (other than disease info =
Hendra) is sometimes hard to vision. One way is by ID horses who
have raced and therefore not used by beginner riders as in the case of
Sarah Waugh, and more recently as mentioned in the War’s End story.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-18/jockey-laura-cheshire-says-she-failed-after-horse-
slaughtered/11618258 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-04/horse-traceability-lacking-proves-deadly-for-
riders-inquiry-told/11474610
Horse SA recently hosted a webinar with Meredith Chapman where
horse industry attitudes to safety were surveyed. There were lots of
amazing results, including 12% of 1700+ people thought it was OK to
drug horses to have them quiet to ride. https://youtu.be/9-ikIN6KMz4
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topi
cs/hierarchy/default.html

9. Reduce crime/fraud
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e.g.
Horses found wandering loose or abandoned
Reuniting horses after natural disasters (to the legal owners)
Any situation where one horse could be substituted for another
Aid towards proof of ownership

10. Horse SA
www.horsesa.asn.au
E: horsesa@horsesa.asn.au
https://www.horsesa.asn.au/feasibility-horse-database
Feasibility of a national horse traceability register for all
horses
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committee
s/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/Nation
alHorseRegister46
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