Originally from: mona parr
                        
Cant afford not to Burkie--our horses are out and about-therefore likely to get checked and DEFRA could catch up with you at the end of their days, as whoever disposes of horse will need passport. Hopefully it could prevent stolen horses being slaughtered for meat/being resold and horses aged 13 being sold as 7 year olds etc (both those ages have hooks on corner teeth) I do have some doubts as to whether it will work with 50+ organisations selling passports, A number of riding schools said they would not buy them before the penalties were announced. I expect they will have changed their minds. The charity ILPH considers it a waste of time and money without microchipping every horse--racehorses are 'chipped' as foals.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/horsepassports/qanda.htm

A25. The Food Standards Agency will be responsible for enforcing the checks carried out at slaughterhouses, and the Local Authorities (e.g. Trading Standards Departments) will be responsible for enforcing the remainder of the legislation. As with all Government legislation, there are penalties that can be applied by the courts for non-compliance. These are: – a fine to a maximum of £5000 for cases involving one to ten animals and a maximum fine of £1000 per animal for cases involving more than ten animals. Second offences can lead to a maximum of one month's imprisonment.