| FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE January 25, 2006 |
CONTACT: Tom Womack |
TENNESSEE LAUNCHES EQUINE PASSPORT PROGRAM
TDA to Help Horse Owners with Animal Identification
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens today announced Tennessee’s participation in a voluntary regional program aimed at making it easier for horse owners to transport equine interstate.
The Equine Interstate Movement Permit, or “passport,” Program, is a new regional effort among participating states that eases current health certificate requirements on the movement of horses for participation in fairs, exhibitions, trail rides and other equine events.
“Tennessee is horse country. We rank second in the nation and have more than 210,000 equine of all types,” said Givens. “We’re glad to offer the new passport program to allow horse owners more freedom to transport their animals across state lines while continuing to safeguard the health of those animals and others that they may come in contact with.”
Currently, most states require horses to have a “Certificate of Veterinary Inspection” and a current negative Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) test, or Coggins test, prior to entering their destination state. Under the new voluntary program, horse owners can obtain a passport that is recognized among participating states as being equivalent to a health certificate except that the passport is valid for six months instead of the traditional 30 days.
Tennessee is among 11 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and West Virginia to join the passport program. In addition, Kentucky and Virginia are expected to recognize the program in the future.
“Horse owners can apply for the passport through an accredited private veterinarian,” said Dr. Ron Wilson, State Veterinarian. “The applications must include a copy of an original Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and a current EIA negative test result. In many instances, the veterinarian can submit the application for a passport at the same time that they submit information to our office for a health certificate.”
Passport applications are available from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture online at www.tennessee.gov/agriculture then click on “Animal Health” to access the passport program.
“While the passport allows horse owners to move between participating states for a period of six months without having to apply for a health certificate every 30 days, horses are required to be properly identified,” said Wilson.
Recognized forms of animal identification include a unique identifier lip tattoo, a unique brand, electronic implant or a digital photograph submitted in “jpeg” format. Horse owners are also responsible for keeping a record of events in which the horse participates.
To help horse owners meet the identification requirements of the passport program, the department is offering $10 credit per animal for the cost of implanting a radio frequency identification microchip. Horse owners can redeem the credit through participating and accredited Tennessee veterinarians.
To qualify for the credit or to apply for a passport, premises where horses are kept must be registered with the Department of Agriculture for the National Animal Identification System. Registering livestock premises is free and can be done at Extension, Farm Service Agency, Farm Bureau or Co-op locations across the state or by downloading the one-page form at www.tennessee.gov/agriculture/tpis.
For more information about the equine passport program or animal identification, contact the Tennessee Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian’s office at (615) 837-5120.
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This and other news from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture can be found online at Tennessee.gov/agriculture/news