Horsebox Driver Newsletter – For Journeys from the UK to EU or from the EU to UK

 

We have received the following information from Horsebox Driver, who are based in Essex and are a training and consultancy service provider for all types of Horsebox and HGV drivers, to assist those who are planning to make a journey in their horsebox from the UK in the near future.

 

Now that the UK has left the EU, new documents and procedures have been put in place for those travelling to the UK.  Owen and Sue Evans of Horsebox Driver will be able to assist with any queries that may be had to ensure compliance and have also put together a handy guide within their latest newsletter, dated 21 January, which can be found below.

 

Should you have any specific queries or need assistance you can contact Horsebox Drivers via their website at www.horseboxdriver.co.uk or by calling 01268 282222 or via email at: info@essexdriver.co.uk .

 

 

There has been lots of changes and it is not easy to understand, maybe you weren’t aware of what you should have been doing before Brexit to be correct so you will have to make more changes than others to be legal.
 

We have listed below what is now required for you to travel to the EU regarding the transport of the animals welfare.

 

1. Drivers Wato certificates UK and EU

2. Vehicle approval certificates UK and EU

3. Contingency Plan for UK and EU

4. Type 2 Authorisation UK and EU (once applications have been accepted)

 

If you do not have all of the above in the vehicle to show the authorities you are not legal to transport horses over 8 hours from the UK to the EU

 

You may also require an Operator licence, we can discuss this with you, also the insurances you have in place for the vehicles and the road tax you have.

 

You need to get it right as the authorities are toughening up and it is easier to track your vehicle movement now with the technology at the borders.

 

What’s needed now if the journey is in connection with an ‘economic activity’.  An economic activity is:  Any transport of animals undertaken as part of a business or commercial activity, which aims at achieving financial gain, whether direct or indirect, for any person or company involved with transport’. 

• includes ‘professional horse riders/jockeys, including those sponsored to compete’.

· where animals are transported in order to be sold as part of a business

 

There are two types of Authorisation: 

• a short journey Authorisation (Type 1) for journeys over 65km and up to and including eight hours duration and

• a long journey Authorisation (Type 2) for all journeys over 65km and which exceed eight hours duration. Type 2 authorisations also cover transporters who may additionally undertake short journeys.

 

Transporters, therefore, only need to apply for one authorisation. Additional conditions will need to be met if applying for a long journey Authorisation.

Anyone required to hold an authorisation must ensure that when transporting live animals, a copy of the authorisation is available for inspection, if required, by the competent authority.

· Authorisation Certificates are issued by Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)

· Authorisations are valid for five years unless revoked or suspended.

· Authorisations may have conditions imposed upon them.

 

A journey is defined as the time from when the first animal is loaded onto a means of transport at the premises of departure until the last animal is unloaded at the final destination. The distance of 65km is defined as the distance necessarily travelled, not as a direct line of measurement (i.e. ‘as the crow flies’).

 

 

Transporter and attendants are required to undertake an assessment and obtain a Certificate of Competence (WATO) needs to be held and should accompany transporters on all journeys. This is for both the UK and EU

 

Transporters who are required by the legislation to have their vehicles inspected and approved, under categories of vehicles require inspection and approval all vehicles used to transport cattle, sheep, pigs, goats or horses by road on journeys over eight hours

Transporters undertaking long journeys to the EU must ensure that a copy of their Vehicle Approval Certificate is available for inspection by the Competent Authority.

 As the competent authority in England, Defra have designated the following certifying bodies to carry out vehicle inspections and provide certification in accordance with the scheme below are the companies in the UK to contact.

 NSF Certification UK Ltd Hanborough Business Park Long Hanborough Oxford OX29 8SG Tel: 01993 885610 Email: certificationuk@nsf.org

 Freight Transport Association Hermes House St John’s Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 9UZ Tel: 01892 552235 Email: twells.admin@fta.co.uk

 

To obtain a Vehicle approval Certificate in the EU you would have to contact the equivalent to APHA in an EU country to book an appointment for them to approve the vehicle. You will need to have a representative based in that EU country.

 

TYPE 2 Authorisation

You have to make an application in the UK and the EU and they must both be completed in the name of the Transporter, this must be the same name if both the UK and the EU.

The application must include details of the

 

UK 

1. The drivers of the vehicle including their certificate of competence in horse welfare (WATO)

2. A valid certificate of the vehicle approvals

3. Details of contingency plan

 

EU 

1. The drivers of the vehicle including their certificate of competence in horse welfare (WATO)

2. A valid certificate of the vehicle approvals

3. Details of contingency plan

4. Details of Representative of the EU state