Brexit: the major impacts on the racing and breeding industry

On Tuesday night MPs voted against Theresa May's Brexit Withdrawal Agreement by a majority of 230 votes. Here is a selection of the potential ramifications for the racing and breeding industry . . .

• The Tripartite agreement, enabling the free movement of horses between Britain, Ireland and France, would no longer be valid if the UK leaves the EU with no deal. The import of equines from the EU into the UK will not change immediately after exit as the UK is replicating current systems, although there is uncertainty over whether the EU chooses to reciprocate. In 2017, there was 26,000-plus thoroughbred movements between Britain, Ireland and France for racing, breeding and sales purposes using the Tripartite agreement, including 1,604 runners from foreign based trainers in Britain. A total of 842 runners from Britain contested international races, of which 66 per cent were staged in EU countries.

• In the event of a no-deal scenario, the UK would apply for listed third country status for export health certification but cannot be certain of the EU response or its timing. Without listed status no exports to the EU could take place.

• There are a range of measures across identification, transport and animal husbandry that will need to be replicated or enhanced under UK legislation post-Brexit.
  
  
• There is potential for the EU to apply tariff rates of up to 11.5 per cent for horses, except purebred breeding animals, but including gelded thoroughbreds.

• Brexit could heap more pressure upon the shortage in stable staff, given the importance of foreign workers in the industry. British racing requires a post-Brexit immigration system that does not compromise the status of European Economic Area and non-EEA workers already in Britain.

• Concerns will remain over whether Gibraltar-based bookmakers will retain continued access to markets within the EU.

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