Dossier Posted on 2019-08-08 13:05:54
The HHP framework, for certified high-health-status equine athletes
Keywords
Authors
Morgane Dominguez(1), Neo J. Mapitse(1)*, Göran Akerström (2), Roland Devolz(3), John McEwen(2), Brian Stewart(4) & Kenneth Lam(4)
(1) Status Department, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
(2) International Equestrian Federation (FEI), Lausanne, Switzerland.
(3) International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
(4) Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
* Corresponding author: disease.status@oie.int
The designations and denominations employed and the presentation of the material in this article do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the OIE concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries.
The views expressed in this article are solely the responsibility of the author(s). The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by the OIE in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.
This risk-based framework is built on established OIE standards and principles, such as compartmentalisation and zoning, certification, traceability, identification, and stringent biosecurity, to establish a subpopulation of horses with a high health status (as defined in Chapter 4.17. of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code). Such a high-health subpopulation is established by the application of documented health management practices and biosecurity measures to create and maintain a functional separation between horses within the subpopulation and all other equids – at all times and places. HHP horses are international athletes that have a high health status certified by the Veterinary Authority.
The OIE HHP Handbook includes detailed recommendations and model certificates
Detailed recommendations for the management of high-health-status horse subpopulations are defined in the OIE Handbook for the Management of High Health, High Performance Horses. The OIE HHP Handbook also includes model HHP Veterinary Certificates, which provide harmonised requirements for the temporary importation of HHP horses to take part in international sports events and return to their usual countries of residence.
The HHP framework is not meant to override existing import agreements. This harmonised, risk-based framework is primarily intended to assist countries that have not yet established bilateral and regional import agreements. It enables them to provide assurance to their trading partners of the very low health risk posed by horses that are temporarily moved internationally to compete in international sporting events.
https://doi.org/10.20506/bull.2019.2.2976
