§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many organisations have been recognised in Britain to register equidae within the meaning of directive 90/426/EEC; [9349]
(2) if he will name the organisations in Britain which have been recognised to register equidae within the meaning of directive 90/426/EEC; and if he will make a statement about the welfare implications for equidae of such registration. [9350]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 16 January 1996]: Under EC Council directive 90/426, "registered equidae" means any equidae registered with those organisations or associations maintaining studbooks which have been formally recognised under the terms of EC Council 626W directive 90/427. Recognition is voluntary. Thirty seven organisations have so far been recognised in the United Kingdom as follows:
- The National Pony Society
- British Miniature Horse Society
- National Light Horse Breeding Society
- Anglo-European Studbook Ltd.
- British Warm-Blood Society
- British Sports Horse Registry
- Arab Horse Society
- Weatherbys
- British Horse Foundation
- Shire Horse Society
- Suffolk Horse Society
- The British Andalusian Horse Society
- Falabella Horse Breeders Association
- Caspian Pony Society
- Dales Pony Society
- Hackney Horse Society
- Exmoor Pony Society
- Lusitano Breed Society of Great Britain
- British Skewbald and Piebald Association
- New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society
- British Appaloosa Society
- The Spotted Horse and Pony Register
- English Connemara Pony Society
- The Dartmoor Pony Society
- Irish Draught Horse Society
- British Hanoverian Horse Society
- International Miniature Pony Society
- Welsh Pony and Cob Society
- Donkey Breed Society
- British Palomino Society
- Fjord Horse Society of Great Britain
- British Lipizzaner Horse Society
- Shetland Pony Society
- British Quarter Horse Association
- Trakehner Breeders Fraternity
- Eriskay Pony Society
- Highland Pony Society.
The welfare implications for registered equidae are being considered. We will be discussing this with interested parties as part of our continuing consultations on the implementation of Council Directive 95/29/EC.