“We need a little help from our friends!”

ADRIAN Todd, MD of SAEHP (South African Equine Health & Protocols) has just returned from Europe where he delivered a memorandum to a number of individuals concerned with the impasse that has occurred in South Africa’s long-time battle to get the restrictions on our bloodstock exports lifted by the European Union.

In a rather bizarre development, a stand-off over poultry trade between South Africa and the EU has become the main stumbling block preventing the EU from carrying out an audit. 

Below is the SAEHP’s memorandum:

Back in the Sixties, the pop group, The Beatles, had a hit song titled “A Little Help From My Friends.” Those lyrics now apply to South Africa’s attempt to overcome all the Grand National-like obstacles regarding free movement of horses between them and EU countries.

The majority of the people this narrative is aimed at are horse lovers. Yet, currently we are putting our horses through the ordeal of many months of travelling 21 days in SA, three months in Mauritius and – on arrival in the EU – a further 30-60 days residency before onward transportation. This should be sufficient to get your attention.

We need to stress we are not coming with a begging bowl. We have got our facts in order and are ready to present a case the world’s leading lawyers would be proud of!

1. What is of imperative importance to us is to persuade the EU to set an audit date when the EU’s veterinary officials can examine our case. An audit is required to reopen direct movement. We won’t be found wanting as we’ve done our homework. The disease control measures now in place are world-class. We have reached a stage where we are confident that SA meets – and exceeds – all of the EU’s disease control requirements.

2. It is important to us that our government is also confident we will pass an audit. In the same way as DNA has advanced in the last two decades to trap criminals, we have also made strides. In this regard, we as industry have formed a public/private partnership with our Government. This public/private partnership has successfully designed and implemented a world-class disease control system. Internationally renowned veterinarian Dr Des Leadon was engaged to consult on the implementation of the system and has conducted two independent audits of South Africa’s disease control measures, in anticipation of the official EU audit. This partnership between the South African Equine Health and Protocols (SAEHP) and the South African Government authorities remains committed to maintaining the high level of disease control that has been implemented. However without free and fair open trade, our industry will not be able to continue funding the control system.

3. We never envisaged chickens would be a bugbear for our bloodstock industry – sadly that is the case. It’s ludicrous that the bureaucracy could put a spanner in the works of our attempts for fair trade because of a fight between South Africa and the EU over chickens. The EU have stated that no audit regarding horses will be forthcoming while poultry exports to South Africa are closed after the 2017 Avian influenza outbreak. We are confident the politically powerful racing people in the EU will point out this is hugely unfair and push our cause. In a nutshell, it is surely wrong to allow non-equine related trade issues to be the downfall of the SA racing industry.

4. So – despite our best efforts – we are now turning to the international racing community to back our stance which has so many positives – more owners and thus more jobs – and level playing fields for a sport loved by so many.

5. We believe we have made such gigantic strides that we no longer need to prove that we present a risk, perceived or real. We are aware we need the world much more than they need us, but we are appealing for action because we believe the people this narrative will be reaching are one of the same when it comes to fair trade and the love of the horse.

6. The world looks to the EU as a gold standard for animal disease control and safe and sustainable movement of animals across borders.We are not asking for any concessions nor do we expect any, we are simply asking for an audit of our disease control systems. Systems that we believe comply with all of the requirements set out in the SA EU movement of horses protocol.

7. We feel if we don’t get it right this time – we can forget about it for a generation. How sad would that be – not least affecting the livelihoods of thousands. The South African Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry is at real risk of total implosion. This will be devastating to the thousands of families who rely on the industry for a living. It sets a dangerous precedent for the entire international breeding and racing community when the international movement of horses can be affected in such a severe and debilitating manner by issues not related to the sound scientific principles on which the safe and sustainable international movements of horses should be based.  

8. Through the efforts of SAEHP, (SA Equine Health & Protocols), we have developed good contacts with the European Commission. But – like Frankie Dettori getting stuck into his mount in the final furlong – one needs that extra push to succeed. Yes, we need A Little Help From Our Friends in the powerhouses of European racing.