Horse identification and traceability systems — including the equine passport scheme — are critical tools for protecting horse welfare throughout life, particularly at the point of slaughter or export.
Horse passport systems create accountability across the lifespan — linking owners to welfare obligations and enabling traceback of welfare failures. The weaknesses in the system — fraud, inadequate enforcement, and gaps in export oversight — create welfare risks particularly at end-of-life. Stronger enforcement of passport requirements, combined with mandatory reporting of horse sales and exports, would significantly improve welfare outcomes for the most vulnerable horses in the system.