Essential Changes to Irish Horse Control: Key Insights from Latest Report

A recent report on Ireland’s horse and food safety systems has sparked a commitment to improve these crucial areas. The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine requested a review from Professor Paddy Wall, a veterinarian and food safety expert, in light of troubling findings from a June 2024 documentary by RTE Investigates.

The documentary raised serious concerns over Shannonside Foods, Ireland’s only horse slaughter facility, which allegedly processed horses that were not supposed to enter the food chain. It suggested that some horses were given new identities to be slaughtered and even pointed to the disturbing possibility that some riding horses were exported with fake passports altering their identities and ages. If true, this could pose a significant risk to food safety and traceability.

Professor Wall emphasized the urgent need for reforms in how horses are identified and tracked. According to him, unless existing vulnerabilities are fixed, the issues may arise again. The report highlights that horses marked unsuitable for consumption become worthless at the end of their lives, opening doors for illegal activities like unregulated slaughter, which could mean unsafe meat enters the food supply.

Interestingly, horse slaughter is illegal in the United States for animal welfare reasons, leading many horses to be shipped to Canada and Mexico instead. These horses often experience a six-month period in feedlots to cleanse their systems before their meat is exported to the European Union.

Wall proposed eight key steps to enhance the system. These include improving data integration, enhancing oversight, boosting accessibility, raising awareness, ensuring compliance, and encouraging stronger cooperation across Europe. He believes these measures could help Ireland set a standard for the entire EU, especially in light of the 2013 horse meat scandal that unsettled many consumers.

In response to the findings, the Department of Agriculture has rolled out an action plan that aims for legislative changes in 2025 related to residue testing at slaughter facilities. They are also implementing a random inspection regime to ensure that by 2026, all live horses from EU countries or imported from non-EU countries are checked at Irish borders.

Martin Heydon, the Minister for Agriculture, expressed his commitment to these recommendations. He emphasized the involvement of all stakeholders, from horse owners to regulators, in making the horse sector safer and more transparent. “Everyone must take responsibility to ensure horses are traceable and secure,” he stated.

As society increasingly values food safety, these changes could position Ireland as a leader in equine traceability and food integrity. Better identification and tracking of horses can prevent fraud, protect consumer health, and ensure that horse welfare is upheld throughout the process.

For those interested in more details on food safety measures related to horses, the full report by the Department of Agriculture can be found [here](https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/321971/7cc2a3af-6fa4-42a1-8f7b-c2592548c441.pdf#page=null).

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