Horses and donkeys intended for competition — rules on trade

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 90/428/EEC on trade in equidae intended for competitions and laying down the conditions for participation therein

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

• The directive lays down rules on intra-EU trade in equidae, i.e. domestic animals of the equine (horse) or asinine (donkey) species, or cross-breeds (mules and hinnies), intended for competitions.
• These rules aim at removing obstacles to trade in equidae by eliminating disparities between the conditions for access to competitions in different EU countries.

KEY POINTS

This directive lays down the conditions governing trade in equidae intended for competitions and those concerning their participation in competitions in the EU.

Type of competition

The term ‘competition’ means any equestrian competition, including horse racing, show-jumping, eventing, dressage, events reserved for horse-drawn vehicles and showing classes.

Participation in competitions

Competition rules may not create discrimination based on the place of origin or registration of equidae in the EU. Specifically, equidae from all EU countries must be treated equally with regard to:

• the requirements for entering the competition;
• the judging of the competition;
• the prize money or profits which may result from the competition.

However, this obligation does not prevent the organisation of:

• competitions reserved for equidae registered in a particular studbook, for the purpose of improving the breed;
• regional competitions for selection purposes;
• historic or traditional events.

EU countries may reserve a certain percentage of the prize money or profits for the safeguarding, development and improvement of breeding in the country where the competition took place.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied from 17 July 1990. EU countries had to incorporate it into national law by 1 July 1991.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

• ‘Member States information’ on the European Commission’s website

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Directive 90/428/EEC of 26 June 1990 on trade in equidae intended for competitions and laying down the conditions for participation therein (OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, pp. 60–61)

Successive amendments to Directive 90/428/EEC have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED ACTS

Commission Decision 92/216/EEC of 26 March 1992 on the collection of data concerning competitions for equidae as referred to in Article 4 (2) of Council Directive 90/428/EEC (OJ L 104, 22.4.1992, p. 77)

See consolidated version.

last update 25.07.2016