The European Commission's decision that the horse be regarded as a "food animal" rather than the Irish definition of it as a sport animal will cause major problems for Irish vets. A series of drugs which are widely used in equine management - ACP, Phenylbutizone, Immobilon/Revivor and Zylazine - are to be banned under EU regulations from January 1st next.
The Irish Veterinary Union conference was told the drugs are being banned because expensive tests to determine how long residues remain in the carcase have not been carried out.
At the a.g.m. a large number of vets complained that the drugs, which have been widely used for years, were perfectly safe for use in sport animals. They said Britian had received a year-long derogation from the EU directive and Ireland should have achieved the same because little or no horseflesh is either eaten in or exported from Ireland.
One of the drugs, Immobilon, is used to sedate horses so they can be castrated and the others are anti-inflammatory and pain-killing injections.
A delegate said that without the help of these drugs showjumping would receive a big setback because they are widely used on showjumpers.
There was a great deal of criticism of the Irish authorities for failing to get a derogation for Ireland so the drugs could be used until the companies carried out trials on retention lengths.
The meeting was also told that there is a threat to have the product Zylazine banned for use in cattle, and that will also have serious implications.
The union is to lobby the Ministers for Health and Agriculture and the EU Veterinary Committee, MEPs and other politicians on the issue.