Horses (Free Access to Competitions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992

Made: 15th December 1992

Coming into operation: 1st January 1993

The Department of Agriculture being designated[^f00001] for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972[^f00002] in relation to the Common Agricultural Policy of the Economic Community, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by the said section 2(2), hereby makes the following Regulations:—

Citation and commencement

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Horses (Free Access to Competitions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 and shall come into operation on 1st January 1993.

Interpretation

2

• (1) Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954[^f00003] shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

• (2) In these Regulations—

• “competition” means any equestrian competition, including horse racing, show-jumping, eventing, dressage, events reserved for horse-drawn vehicles and showing classes; and

• “horses” means domestic animals of the equine or asinine species or crossbreeds thereof.

Application

3

• (1) These Regulations apply to horses intended for competition and the conditions governing their participation therein.

• (2) The Regulations do not apply to—

• (a) competitions reserved for the purpose of permitting the improvement of the breed;

• (b) regional competitions with a view to selecting horses; or

• (c) historic or traditional events.

Rules governing non-discrimination

4

• (1) The rules of any competition shall not discriminate between horses which are registered or originate in the United Kingdom and horses which are registered or originate in another Member State.

• (2) Such rules of competition shall not discriminate, in particular with regard to—

• (a) the requirements for entering the competition, in particular the minimum or maximum requirements;

• (b) the judging of the competition; or

• (c) the prize money or profits which may accrue from the competition.

Reasons for refusal

5

The grounds on which a horse registered or originating in another Member State is refused entry to a competition shall be communicated in writing by the organiser of the competition to the owner or his authorised representative.

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture on 15th December 1992.

D. A. J. Hirrell — Assistant Secretary

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations implement Council Directive 90/428/EEC (O.J. No. L224, 18.8.90, p. 60) on trade in equidae intended for competition and laying down the conditions for participation therein. Subject to specified exceptions, (regulation 3), discrimination in competition on grounds of registration or origin in another Member State is prohibited (regulation 4). If a horse from another Member State is not permitted to compete, reasons must be given in writing to its owner or his authorised representative (regulation 5).

Footnotes

[^f00001]: S.I. 1972/1811

[^f00002]: 1972 c. 68

[^f00003]: 1954 c. 33 (N.I.)