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Equine passport and transponder; application

All equidae (horses, donkeys, zebras and their crossbreeds) are subject to identification. An equine passport and a transponder are required.

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Landesverband Bayerischer Pferdezüchter e.V.
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Procedure details

According to Art. 114 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 in conjunction with. DVO (EU) 2021/963, operators must ensure that equidae are individually identified in accordance with the applicable requirements.

The identification includes

  • the issuance of a single, lifelong valid identification document ("equine passport")
  • a method to ensure the unique link between the identification document and the equidae (transponder or alternative identification)

Equine passport regulation DVO (EU) 2021/963

Since July 7, 2021, the new EU Implementing Regulation No. 2021/963, the so-called new Equine Passport Regulation, has been in force with provisions for the identification and registration of equidae (horses, donkeys, zebras and their crossbreeds) and for the establishment of model identification documents for these animals.


Equine passports that have been duly issued to date remain valid!


Every equid must have an equine passport for more than 30 days within 12 months of birth, but at the latest before leaving the holding of birth for good.
The basis for issuing an equine passport is identification by means of a transponder, the so-called chip. The transponder number is used to register the equid in the database of the show office and the central HIT database (HIT = Origin and Information System for Animals).
The animal keeper is responsible for the identification of equidae, i.e. the person who actually has the animal in his/her care and is responsible for its keeping, regardless of the purpose of the keeping and regardless of ownership.
The animal keeper must have the transponder placed by a veterinarian or by an authorized person of a breeders' association/international competition organization.

The following bodies are responsible for issuing equine passports:

  • For registered equidae (horses with pedigree and horses, including ponies, that are registered with an international association or organization that manages competition and race horses):
    • Breeding association or breeders' association that maintains the studbook for the animal in question.
      You can obtain an overview of the officially approved or recognized breeding associations or breeders' associations from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (see "Further links")
    • German Equestrian Federation (FN) for competition and racehorses
  • For all other non-registered equidae born or kept in Bavaria, including so-called "leisure horses" and donkeys:
    • Landesverband Bayerischer Pferdezüchter e. V.

Obligations of the keeper

The animal keeper must ensure, among other things, that the following identification details in the equine passport are up to date at all times:

  • Slaughter horse/non-slaughter horse status
  • Status as a registered or non-registered equid
  • Owner details

Any necessary changes must be reported to the responsible show office within 30 days and the passport must be sent in.
The equine passport must always be carried with the animal when it leaves its home stable. Exceptions to this are grazing, rides and drives etc. in the vicinity of the stable, training or tests as part of a competition, emergencies and foals at foot.
Equidae may only be transferred to the herd if they are properly identifiable and accompanied by an equine passport.
After the death of the equine, the passport must be returned to the relevant passport office.

The costs can be obtained from the respective passport issuing authority.

Further important information on the correct identification of equidae

Only the transponders issued by the above-mentioned passport issuing authorities may be used to identify equidae. Microchips, such as those used for dogs or cats, are not permitted for the identification of equidae in Germany.

Passports must also be applied for from the competent authority for equidae for which, contrary to legal requirements, no passport is yet available. It is not possible to slaughter these animals for human consumption because a so-called replacement passport is issued for these equidae.

The following applies to foreign equine passports:

  • Equine passports issued in EU member states are also valid in Germany
  • For equidae from countries outside the EU that were imported without a recognized passport, an EU equine passport must be applied for from the competent passport issuing authority no later than 30 days after completion of the customs procedure.

Status: 16.12.2024
Editorial responsibility Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz
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