Veterinary Department Updates

The FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List Group - the sub-committee of the Veterinary Committee responsible for the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List (EPSL) - has met to consider changes to the EPSL 2022.

During 2022 a detailed review of the Controlled Medication list has been carried out and the proposed changes to the EPSL can be found here. Any accepted changes will come into effect as of 1 January 2023, and are subject to consultation and review before their implementation.

Please submit all comments regarding the proposed changes, together with a clear scientific reasoning, to Caterina Termine by Friday 12 August 2021. All comments received within this deadline will be considered by the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List Group before finalising their conclusions.

As you are aware, Part 3 of the Report into the outbreak of Neurological Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) in Mainland Europe February 2021, was scheduled to be published in May 2022. However, this publication date has had to be delayed due to the postponement of a key meeting with Boehringer Ingelheim, the global leader in equine health and the FEI’s partner in the #HealthforHorses campaign aimed at improving the daily care and wellbeing of horses. Information from the postponed meeting which will now take place next month, will play an important role in the suggested way forward and is a central component of Part 3 of the Report.

Elements of the way forward were presented at the FEI Sports Forum on 26 April 2022, and these will be incorporated into Part 3. This final part of the Report will include proposed further risk mitigation of EHV-1, with the Sports Forum presentations from Session 8: FEI Veterinary Regulations, incorporated as Annexes.

It is planned to publish Part 3 in June 2022.

The FEI has today published Part 2 of the Report into the 2021 outbreak of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) in mainland Europe. This section of the Report focuses on the Return To Competition protocols put in place to ensure the safe resumption of FEI Events after the six-week FEI-imposed lockdown on international sport in Continental Europe.

Part 2 of the Report also focuses on the EHV-1 By-Laws and sanctioning system, and evaluates their effectiveness, along with the elements that were subsequently incorporated into the FEI Veterinary Regulations 2022 approved at the FEI Hybrid General Assembly in November 2021.

The 30-page Report (Part 2), together with over 200 pages of Annexes, has been produced by FEI Veterinary Director Dr Göran Åkerström and Grania Willis, former FEI Communications Director and now Executive Consultant to the FEI.

Part 2 of the Report is published here on a dedicated page within the biosecurity hub of the FEI corporate website, home to all content related to the investigation into the outbreak of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) in Spain in February 2021.

It sits alongside Part 1 of the Report and its Annexes, which were published on 28 February 2021.

Part 3 of the Report, elements of which will be presented at the FEI Sports Forum (25-26 April 2022), will incorporate further risk mitigation of EHV-1, including conclusions from the scientific EHV-1 vaccination review commissioned by the FEI, and the suggested way forward. This concluding section of the Report, with the Sports Forum presentations incorporated as Annexes, will then be published as Part 3 in May 2022.

Due to the ongoing EHV-1 outbreak in the California region, the United States Equestrian Federation has decided to cancel the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2022 qualifier in San Juan Capistrano from 10-15 May 2022.

This is the third leg in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ series 2022, and is one of three North/Central America & Caribbean Division events in the series alongside Coapexpan (MEX) and Vancouver (CAN).

The USEF and Organising Committee (OC) are announcing this decision as early as possible in order to allow the teams to get organised and plan alternative competition schedules. The FEI fully understands the difficult decision taken by the USEF and OC in response to the ongoing biosecurity threat, reflecting the community’s firm commitment to equine health and welfare.

A letter issued on 3 March 2022 by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) also calls on all participants and Equestrian Event Coordinators to exercise extreme caution for the next 28 days. “For several weeks, the FEI has closely monitored the development of the EHV-1 outbreak in California and supports the decision to close down competition. Stopping movement of horses is key to prevent further spread of the virus” - FEI Veterinary Director Göran Akerström.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind all athletes and support teams of the important biosecurity protocols in place at all FEI Events. Awareness of and strict adherence to biosecurity protocols is critical to reducing the risk of ongoing disease transmission, and for the protection of the health of the equine athletes.

For more information on the FEI’s Horse Health Requirements and Biosecurity protocols:

• Horse Health Requirements 2022 (These rules protect FEI Horses and global equestrian sports from the consequences of infectious diseases being transmitted before, during and after FEI Events; provide reassurance of the high health of equestrian sport Horses to global, continental and national veterinary authorities and organisations; and, maintain and further improve the conditions for international movement of sport Horses.)
• Biosecurity and Movements (For Biosecurity guidelines; information on real-time equine infectious disease reports on a global scale; and EHV-1 related reports).

In February, the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) issued several health alerts for Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) and continues to actively monitor and maintain an onsite presence at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal following several confirmed cases of EHV-1.

EHV-1 is an air-borne disease that can be transmitted up to five metres via coughing, but also through direct contact, via people and shared equipment. It can cause respiratory and neurological signs, abortion in pregnant mares and death of young foals. Please refer to the FEI’s Equine Herpes Virus factsheet for more detailed information.

The FEI is working closely with the Desert Circuit management team, the CDFA and USEF, to ensure all biosecurity protocols with isolation and quarantine related measures are in place, while affected horses remain under veterinary care and direct supervision. The event venue is currently not allowing any new horses on site and an epidemiological investigation is ongoing to determine links between cases, and potential transmission routes have been identified, with additional mitigation measures implemented to reduce risks of ongoing viral transmission.

Among the mitigation measures, the FEI has recently blocked a number of in-contact horses to prevent the virus being transmitted at future events. All the Persons Responsible (PRs) whose horses have been on the venue and their administering National Federations have been contacted with the necessary information and the biosecurity measures that need to be implemented in order to be unblocked and eligible to compete at FEI Events again.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind all athletes and support teams of the important biosecurity protocols in place at all FEI Events. Awareness of and strict adherence to biosecurity protocols is critical to reducing the risk of ongoing disease transmission, and for the protection of the health of the equine athletes.

For more information on the FEI’s Horse Health Requirements and Biosecurity protocols:

• Horse Health Requirements 2022
• Biosecurity and Movements

We would like to draw your attention to the approved modifications in the FEI Veterinary Regulations 2022 in regards to Horse Health Requirements and the use of the FEI HorseApp, which will be implemented globally from 1 January 2022.

The Horse Health Requirements (derived from the EHV-1 By-Laws applied in Europe from 31 May to 31 December 2021), have been put in place to: 
•    protect FEI horses and global equestrian sports from the consequences of infectious diseases being transmitted before, during and after FEI Events.
•    provide reassurance of the high health of equestrian sport horses to global, continental and national veterinary authorities and organisations; and
•    to maintain and further improve the conditions for international movement of sport horses.
In accordance with Art. 1029 and 1031 of the FEI 2022 Veterinary Regulations, as of 1 January 2022, ALL Horses competing at ALL FEI Events worldwide must fulfil the Horse Health Requirements via the FEI HorseApp.

The relevant requirements are controlled by FEI Veterinarians and FEI Officials at the Examination at Arrival and throughout FEI Events. FEI Veterinarians officiating at FEI Events will also need to perform the Examination at Arrival using the FEI HorseApp.

Sanctions for non-compliance are already in force for Horses competing at FEI Events in Mainland Europe, these will be introduced worldwide in due course.

Visit the dedicated hub detailing the new Horse Health Requirements starting from 1 January 2022 for more information.
 
For any questions regarding the Horse Health Requirements or the FEI HorseApp, please contact usersupport@fei.org 

The EHV-1 By-Laws, which have been in place since 31 May 2021, protect FEI horses and global equestrian sports from the transmission of infectious diseases before, during and after FEI Events.
In accordance with EHV-1 By-Law No.10, Athletes/Grooms must provide a signed Horse Health FEI Self-Certification form for all horses attending an FEI Event in mainland Europe, including mandatory temperature monitoring for the 10 days leading up to their arrival at an FEI Event.
As of 1 August 2021 this information must be submitted via the FEI HorseApp for all Events taking place in mainland Europe. This means for all Events starting in week 32 (09/08/2021 – 15/08/2021).
An updated version of the FEI HorseApp will allow Athletes, Grooms, Owners, Endurance Trainers and Athlete Managers to easily submit the required information via the mobile application. Paper copies will no longer be accepted.
General information regarding the FEI HorseApp can be found on Inside.FEI.org and guidelines on how to use the new functionalities can be found here.
Please find attached the communication that was sent to the relevant Stakeholders.
For any questions, please contact: usersupport@fei.org.

According to the FEI Board Resolution of 30 March 2021, the FEI issued the EHV-1 By-Laws (Return To Competition measures) to apply to all Events in Mainland Europe held under FEI jurisdiction from 12 April to 30 May 2021.

Based on the experience gained during this time, and following the assessment made together with the FEI Veterinary Epidemiology Working Group and in close cooperation with the relevant stakeholders (including but not only the Equestrian Organisers), the FEI Board has approved certain amendments and extensions to the EHV-1 By-Laws as defined below.

The EHV-1 By-Laws as detailed below will be applicable in Mainland Europe from 31 May 2021 – 31 December 2021. The measures will be included in the draft 2022 FEI Veterinary Regulations and, subject to approval at the FEI General Assembly, will be implemented globally from 1 January 2022.

1. Further to a declared outbreak of suspected or confirmed neurological EHV, increased jurisdiction for the FEI Secretary General to stop events and to request the Persons Responsible to register the GPS location of their horse(s) via the FEI HorseApp (***);

2. All Organising Committees (OCs) to submit the Biosecurity Plan to the Veterinary Delegate (VD) at least 10 days in advance of the opening of the stables (*);

3. Mandatory use of FEI HorseApp by the VD/VC or a veterinarian assigned by the VD/VC at Examination on Arrival with registration of horses’ rectal temperatures (**);

4. Mandatory checkout of horses by the OC using the FEI HorseApp (*);

5. Mandatory rectal temperature checks of all horses twice daily at events, with the readings posted on a chart outside each horse’s box (**);

6. Isolation of entire transport in cases of horses arriving with rectal temperature over 38.5C to the Examination on Arrival (**);

7. Isolation unit requirements (protocols, equipment) (**);

8. Cleaning and disinfection requirements including sealed boxes (**);

9. Mandatory isolation overflow (*);

10. Self-declaration by athlete including horse rectal temperatures for the 10 days before arrival to the event (from 1 August 2021 this must be recorded on the FEI HorseApp by the PR/Groom) (*);

11. For events with horses staying on the venue over consecutive weeks – onsite venue inspection by the FEI Veterinary Department or a veterinarian appointed by the FEI Veterinary Department at least once annually. FVD appointed by the FEI Veterinary Department (appoint FVDs from neighbouring countries when possible). Until 1 July 2021, the FEI Veterinary Department will accept the already appointed Veterinary Delegate for the role as Foreign Veterinary Delegate. (****);

12. At events with more than 400 horses onsite at any one time, additional VDs are required (1/400 horses) based on the maximum number of horses for all FEI Event categories as declared in the Event Schedule. (Changes will not be allowed after the deadline for amendments to the Event Schedule) (*);

13. There must be a sufficient number of Treating Vets appointed by the OC. (At least 1/200 horses) (****);

14. Before flights alternatively entering Pre-Export Quarantine going to FEI Events, each horse must present a negative PCR result for EHV 1 and 4, and for Equine Influenza sampled by a nasopharyngeal swab. The sample must be taken no more than 96h before the flight or entrance to the Pre-Export Quarantine (*);

15. The VD/VC must ensure that any horse displaying fever or neurological signs at an FEI Event is sampled using a nasopharyngeal swab and sent to a laboratory listed by the FEI. The FEI Veterinary Department will fund the analysis and costs for shipping and material for the index case. (****)

LEGEND:

* Prolongation of certain by-laws (some are amended);

** Clarification of existing VRs;

*** Already approved by the FEI Board;

**** New by-law.

All points listed above, except number 1, are to be considered Emergency Board Resolutions as per Article 20.3 of the FEI Statutes.

Please note that NFs have until 27 June 2021 to signify their disapproval of any of the above Emergency Board Resolutions by sending an email to Francisco P. Lima, Director Governance & Institutional Affairs.

Following the Return To Competition in mainland Europe on 12 April, we kindly request all concerned National Federations to make sure their athletes and stakeholders are up to date regarding the measures and requirements in place until 30 May 2021, and in particular with regards to:

• The list of Events with +400 horses requiring a negative PCR test for EHV-1 prior to arrival (updated as and when necessary).
• Requirements for Athletes prior to an Event (documents they need to fill in/take with them to Events).

You will find the above and all the relevant information on the EHV-1 hub in the dedicated Return To Competition section, including detailed instructions regarding pre-Event preparation, the FEI HorseApp, check out, as well as a factsheet for Athletes in seven languages and all the relevant forms, guidelines and checklists for the different stakeholder groups to meet the Return To Competition requirements in place.
For all the latest updates on EHV-1, click here.
Thank you for your support and collaboration.

According to the temporary provisions put in place for the return to competition in mainland Europe post-EHV-1, it is mandatory for the Athlete/groom to provide a signed FEI self-certification of health status for all horses being presented at the Examination on Arrival, including mandatory temperature monitoring charts for the 10 days leading up to the event. According to the temporary provisions put in place for the return to competition in mainland Europe post-EHV-1, it is mandatory for the Athlete/groom to provide a signed FEI self-certification of health status for all horses being presented at the Examination on Arrival, including mandatory temperature monitoring charts for the 10 days leading up to the event. Read more ...