NEW legislation to have every horse in the UK microchipped will make the equine identification and passport system more robust.

EU rules mean that all foals born after July 1 and horses born before June 30 that have not yet been issued with a passport, must have a microchip inserted by a veterinary surgeon when their owners apply for a passport.

The Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) says that this new measure will help to recover and identify stolen and abandoned horses, as well as assist with welfare cases.

Compulsory horse passports were introduced in 2005. Following new EU regulations introduced this summer all foals must be microchipped before the owner can apply for a passport.

Passports clearly identify those houses that are not eligible for the food chain if they have been treated with substances that are potentially harmful to humans.

Strengthening the current passport system reduces the risk to human health, avoids the withdrawal of key veterinary medicines and protects the horse meat trade in this country.

Only veterinary surgeons are allowed to implant the microchip, which is a small object about the size of a grain of rice that contains a unique serial code.

It is inserted by an injection into the ligament on the left side of the horse’s neck and must be carried out by a vet.

The horse’s owner’s details and a unique serial code are stored on a computerised database which links the owner to the horse. It is important that the owner’s details are kept up- to-date.

Once the chip has been implanted it cannot move or be seen and therefore it is tamper proof and permanent, unlike other traditional methods of identification such as freeze marking.

Experts say that microchips aid with disease surveillance by tracing specific animals, help with prosecutions for neglect and should reduce the incidence of false documentation and misrepresentation. Microchips could lead to better breeding programmes by helping breeders trace their horse’s progeny.

It is also easy, quick and safe to carry out.