Digital horse passport ‘a significant milestone’ for equestrian sport, officials say
Fédération Équestre Internationale makes several pivotal decisions as it wraps up its general assembly in Hong Kong
The world governing body for equestrian sport has concluded its general assembly in Hong Kong, with officials making several decisions expected to affect its future direction.
Some 267 delegates from 73 national federations took part in the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) gathering, the first time it has taken place in the city in 27 years.
Chief among those decisions was the announcement of the digital horse passport, which is expected to be implemented from next year and could revolutionise animal management by strengthening biosecurity standards and facilitating seamless cross-border movement.
In a statement, officials said the passport would “consolidate key data such as horse identification, health records, vaccination history, travel documents, and microchip scans into a single, integrated platform”.
Goran Akerstrom, the FEI’s veterinary director, said the passport, which was developed in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health, was a “significant milestone for equestrian sport”.
Speaking at the general assembly, Lester Huang, deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and president of the Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China, said the event had provided a valuable opportunity to assess the global state of equestrian sport and chart its future course.