EU Travel Restrictions Following Brexit

Following Brexit the government have released guidance on the movement of equines from the UK to the EU from the 1st January 2021.

The main points to take away from the guidance are that the new light blue HPA passports are valid if you wish to transport equines to Europe.

If you wish to upgrade an existing passport to a registered equine document please download and complete the upgrade form that is available from the passport section of the HPA website and send the existing HPA passport with the form to the HPA office.

Legal requirements of horsebox owners and operators

London Low Emission Zone

If you take a horsebox or other transportation vehicle into the London area you’ll need to comply with the legislation of the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ). This came into force in 2008 with the aim to improve air quality in London by reducing pollution from traffic coming into the capital.

Certain vehicles either have to meet emissions standards or pay a daily charge, which is currently £200 for lorries, large vans and buses. There are penalties if you fail to do this. However, holding a Reduced Pollution Certificate or Low Emissions Certificate means you won’t have to pay the daily charge. So if you’re planning to take a horsebox or lorry into the London LEZ it’s best to check the Transport for London site (opens in new window).

You’ll find all the information you need on which vehicles are affected, and information on how to get a certificate of compliance. The site also includes updates on daily charges for taking vehicles into London, and there’s a handy registration checker to see if your vehicle meets LEZ emission standards.