Changes to Veterinary Regulations

SUMMARISING UPDATES TO THE FEI 2015 VETERINARY REGULATIONS, 13TH EDITION

The changes to the FEI Veterinary Regulations were accepted at the FEI General Assembly 2014 in Baku (AZE).

International Movement of Horses and Role of National Head Veterinarian
 
Collaboration between National Federations, their National Head Veterinarians (NHVs) and governmental authorities is strengthened by communication and ensuring that information relative to the international movement of horses; such as outbreaks of equine infectious diseases significant to sports horses -  will be shared  (Art 1007, Para 5). 
 
NHVs may now be granted an exemption from event mentoring experience to satisfy the qualification requirements outlined for Official Veterinarians. It has been further highlighted that NHVs must be available to undergo training, as directed by the FEI Veterinary Department (Art 1007, Para 3). 
 
Description of the High Health, High Performance (HHP) - Horse concept, approved by the 180 World Animal Health Organisation’s (OIE) member countries, has been added (Art 1026), which is expected to start a slow roll out during 2015.
 
EI Vaccination
 
National Legislation of a number of countries does not permit the use of Equine Influenza Vaccines. A clarification to the regulations relative to the EI vaccination has therefore been included to reflect this prohibition (page 32, Art 1026, para 8).  
 
Microchips – NF and PR Responsibility of Maintaining Up-to-date Records
 
Ensuring that the FEI database records are kept accurate fall under the responsibility of the National Federation and the Person Responsible. An obligation to report if a microchip is replaced in a horse or if there is an equine fatality within days of an FEI event has been included in the regulations and sanctions will be issued for non-compliance. 
 
An approach to recording If a horse carries multiple microchips has been established (Art 1001 and page 59, Art 1038 para 6).
 
Veterinarians at Events and their Qualification
 
Veterinary Services Managers have been a very successful new concept and OCs are requested to appoint them at least 6 months in advance for CIOs and at least 2 years in advance for Olympics and World Equestrian Games (Page 17, Art 1008, Para 4). 
 
The rotation of OVs at an event has now been extended to all levels of events. OVs moreover will be expected to undertake an FEI Veterinarian Course every four (4) years from 2015 onwards, rather than the current 5 years. OVs are not permitted to compete in the event themselves or in any National classes that may be running at the same event (page 14, Art 1006, para 5).
 
Changes have been made to the promotion requirements for Endurance Veterinary Treatment Officials. The time period in which experience is to be gained has been removed and 2* EVTs are only required to have been a member of a veterinary Commission at three events before seeking promotion (Art 1006, Para 11). 
 
Event Requirements
 
Facilities at FEI events have been described to reflect a more practical approach to the organisation of  one-day events in most disciplines (page 26, Art 1023, para 9). 
 
Examples of Horse Inspection surfaces have also been provided (page 28, Art1024, para 6).
 
A new table summarising the make-up of the Horse Inspection panels for each discipline has also been included (page 51, Art 1033). Small administrative aspects of areas of Horse inspections are more fully clarified  (page 40, Art 1033).
 
Injury Surveillance and Reporting
 
Injuries Surveillance is very much strengthened with the introduction of an FEI approach to the collection of data at Endurance events with a high numbers of horses, especially if electronic records are used (page 58, Art 1036).  Serious injuries sustained at FEI events must now be reported within 48 hours of the end of the Event. 
 
A full clarification of the importance of confidentiality when dealing with fatalities, the reporting of fatalities and required post-mortems have also been added (page 60, Art 1040 para 1). An increase of thirty precent in the FEI funding to cover the cost of post-mortem examinations will be available in 2015, which may also be used to cover the costs of transporting a horse to a post-mortem facility. 
 
In case of a horse sustaining a fatal illness or injury relating to an FEI competition, after the event, the PR must report it to their National Federation. The National Federation must then report the incident to the FEI Veterinary Department within 4 days as well as make any required updates to the database within this time period (Art 1038, Para 6). 
 
Sanctions
 
In addition to the sanctions already listed, other new sanctions may also be applicable and violations of the relevant rules may be brought in front of the FEI Tribunal (page 76 Annex II).
 
Additional sanctions have been introduced in Annex II as well as guidance for the three folowing areas, that is: a microchip being read that does not match the FEI database, not reporting the death of a horse to the NF and  bringing a horse to an FEI event without a passport.
 
Treatment During Events
 
The administration of per rectum treatments has now been highlighted as prohibited at FEI events (page 67, Art 1046, para 7). Restriction relative to the use of Kinesiotape only within the stable area has also been included (page 72, Art 1054).
 
Changes to the FEI’s Equine Prohibited Substances List will now permit the use of cyclosporine implants and topical ophthalmic preparations to be used during competition. Use of such substances must be declared using a new format of the Veterinary Form 2. 
 
EADCM Sampling 
 
During the collection of samples for EADCMP testing,  Permitted Treating Veterinarians are allowed to collect the blood samples from the horses, provided they do so under the supervision of the FEI Testing Veterinarian for reasons of safety (page 76, Art 1062). It is highlighted however that the Permitted Treating Veterinarian will take the sample under their own insurance cover.   
 
The Testing Veterinarian’s obligation to wait up to an hour for a urine sample has been removed and they are now allowed to wait for less than an hour depending on the circumstances.
 
Harmonisation of Veterinary Regulations with Discipline Rules 
 
Changes adopted in the Discipline Rules for 2015 are reflected in areas of the Veterinary Regulations where relevant, such as the significant amendments to the FEI Endurance Regulations. 
 
Veterinary Delegate Guidance 
 
FEI Veterinary Delegate Guidance Manual has been drafted and will serve as an additional tool to the FEI Veterinary Regulations with specific practical advice relative to the role of the delegates.
 
The FEI Veterinary Regulations 2015 may be viewed here.
 
FEI Veterinary Department -  December 2014
 
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