Across the Irish Sea, they are finally waking up to a disaster looming over the future of one their chief economic sectors, which also has huge implications for Britain.
At last week’s Dublin Horse Show, a “Brexit Equine Forum” discussed the consequences for Ireland’s horse racing and bloodstock industries of Britain’s decision, by leaving the European Economic Area, to become what the EU calls a “third country”.
This, the audience heard, will bring an abrupt end to the arrangement whereby they and their British and French counterparts can, under EU law, move tens of thousands of horses a year freely in and out of each other’s countries without hindrance.
As a senior Irish government vet explained, this threatens Ireland’s £2 billion a year industry, so closely enmeshed with those of Britain and France, with what he called “an absolute nightmare scenario”. Up will go border inspection posts to ensure that any horses entering the EU from Britain must carry an EU health certificate and be subjected to full veterinary inspection. Building new facilities and training staff could not be completed by Britain’s exit date.
According to a leading Irish trainer, the new procedures could create delays long enough to make movements impossible under animal health rules. So, no more Irish horses at Cheltenham, and much else.
Indeed similar EU rules requiring border inspections posts, vets and delays will severely hamper all traffic of animals and “products of animal origin” across the border with Northern Ireland. They may at last in Ireland be waking up to all this. But in Britain there is little sign yet that our own politicians are aware of just what a problem they seem bent on creating.
Taken for the Sunday Telegraph
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