The British Horse Society has issued the key points of its proposed response to the Government’s draft Animal Health Bill.

The draft Bill would establish a new Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), the 'Animal Health Organisation' (AHO), to take over responsibility from Defra for animal health policy and delivery in England. However, this would not include welfare, which would remain with Defra.

Mark Weston, Director of Access, Safety and Welfare at the BHS said: “The Society has grave concerns that the separation of animal health and animal welfare functions, for reasons which have no rational justification, will have a detrimental overall effect on the health and welfare of equines. The formation of a new NDPB imposes an expensive layer of unnecessary bureaucracy.

“While there have been many years of consultation with the livestock industry on responsibility and cost sharing there has been insufficient consultation with the horse industry. This has resulted in a set of proposals that will not be in the interests of the horse industry.

“The livestock industry is significantly different to the horse industry. As a consequence, proposals relevant to that industry will not always be appropriate to the horse industry, which is primarily a leisure pursuit, the cost of which is paid out of taxed income of the majority of equestrians.”

The BHS believes that because of the vast differences between the two industries equine health issues may be marginalised and that proposals relevant to the livestock sector will be inappropriately applied to the horse industry. Furthermore, the Society points out that the proposed cost of collecting the horse tax, estimated to be in the region of £2.3 million, represents a disproportionate amount against the Defra estimation of £4.5 million which will be raised.

Mak Weston said “I would urge everyone involved in the horse industry to send their views on the consultation to Defra either by email, to animalhealthbill@defra.gsi.gov.uk or by post to Animal Health Bill Team, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Area 5E, 9 Millbank, c/o Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR by Monday 19 April.”