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T O P I C R E V I E W
Julie Bridges
Posted - 19 Jun 2009 : 7:36:19 PM I have recently heard that our marvellous Government is planning to levy an annual tax on farm animals and probably on horses!!
Defra is proposing to set up an independent body to take decisions on animal health issues. If it goes ahead, the scheme would start in 2012 and, if horses are included, Defra estimates each animal would cost about £10.50 per year. This sum would be in addition to current passport costs and would contribute towards dealing with "exotic diseases". They will use the passport data submitted to the National Equine Database to identify who owns horses. If it gets through Parliament, it will finish off a lot of farmers and horse owners.
Did anyone know about this? The consultation period ends at the end of June.
Julie Bridges
3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Karon
Posted - 20 Jun 2009 : 09:09:14 AM Someone apparently mentioned horses at an earlier meeting and DEFRA seem to have gone "Oh, that's a good idea, we can screw lots of money out of horse owners". What I don't get - and we couldn't get an answer to - is why is the figure for horses £10.50 when it's about 1/4 that for beef cattle, yet if there's a disease outbreak that affects horses, horse owners won't get any compensation. And if we all pay £10.50 per horse, we're going to fund the whole thing whereas the idea is to spread the cost over different species.
It's not decided yet though, and only applies to England at the moment although Wales and Scotland may bring in their own measures.
pat ww
Posted - 20 Jun 2009 : 08:45:32 AM another completely unworkable beaurocratic nonsense. who decides on the payment date for a 'year', horses can change hands several times in a year, and not everyone will keep passport information up to date by the sheer cost of transfers, it is easier statistically to risk the fine.
Pashon2001
Posted - 19 Jun 2009 : 8:35:15 PM I heard about this. My worry is how do they know who owns what horses? If they check with the AHS (in my case) they will find I own hundreds!! I'm not paying for all them!
