Index (click on the link to reach the section)

COMPLIANCE WITH FEI EQUINE INFLUENZA VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
GABA and Hydroxy-GABA to be added to the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List
Veterinary Education Update - 1 December 2011
Agreed changes to the 2012 Veterinary Regulations 
Summary of Changes to the 2012 Veterinary Regulations
New 2012 FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List Approved by FEI Bureau
FEI passports and recognition cards
FEI Prohibited Substances Database
Agreed format for medication form 3
FEI Announces detection times for Meloxicam at 72 hours
Thermography and clinical examination
Veterinary Guidances Notes

In this section, you will find various veterinary updates of immediate use. This includes explanations on the new regulations being introduced. There are also upcoming courses around the world for FEI Veterinarians including requirements for FEI Veterinarians from the 31 December 2011.

For further explanations of new measures related to the FEI Cleansport initiative, please check the dedicated website at feicleansport.org or contact us. Click here to have direct access to the prohibited substances database search engine. 

COMPLIANCE WITH FEI EQUINE INFLUENZA VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

There have been recent reports of some viral respiratory disease outbreaks in parts of Europe. This has included Equine Influenza (EI), but also Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) and Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA).
The FEI Veterinary Regulations require that all horses are vaccinated against Equine Influenza within six months of competing at an event, having had the necessary primary course of vaccinations. This approach has been endorsed by  the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE). You must always ensure that your horse complies with these influenza vaccination requirements.
Even though the risk of Equine Influenza and other respiratory viruses is still low, you should also be aware of the signs of influenza and what to do if you have any concerns.

Signs of Equine Influenza:
•    Fever, dry cough followed by a nasal discharge, depression, loss of appetite, muscle pain and weakness are frequently observed.

If you suspect your horse has the disease:
 - Isolate any suspect or sick animals;
 - Seek a veterinary opinion;
 - Check the temperature of other suspect horses;
 - Stop movements of horses within the group in suspected cases of the disease; do not resume movements until the underlying cause of the symptoms are     confirmed.
 - Until the cause of the symptoms is known, ensure that the person who looks after the sick horse does not look after other horses.

Further information on Equine Influenza
http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Media_Center/docs/pdf/Disease_cards/EQUINES-EN.pdf

Please click here for the report on EI in French.

GABA and Hydroxy-GABA to be added to the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List

The FEI List Group is the expert group tasked with determining which substances should be included on the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List and in which category (Banned or Controlled Medication).

The substances Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and Hydroxy-gamma butyric acid (Hydroxy-GABA) were recently brought to the attention of the List Group, primarily by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), because they are ingredients in a commercial product known in the USA as ‘Carolina Gold’.

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter and the USEF decided to prohibit it upon learning of documented adverse reactions in horses. Based on this information, the FEI List Group has similarly advised the FEI to issue an immediate warning against the use of GABA and Hydroxy-GABA. GABA and Hydroxy-GABA will therefore be added to the FEI List of Equine Prohibited Substances with a 90-day implementation period, as provided for in the rules. Starting immediately, any request to an FEI Official/ Veterinary Delegate to administer a substance containing GABA or Hydroxy-GABA at an FEI Event will not be permitted.

This warning is being issued outside of the usual annual review process for the List Group.

For any further queries, please contact Graeme Cooke or Victoria Unt of the FEI Veterinary Department.

Veterinary Education Update 1 December 2011

FEI Veterinary Regulations (Article 1003) currently require that Veterinarians accessing the stable area at FEI events must be listed with the FEI by January 2012. To facilitate the implementation of this new system, the Bureau at the 2011 General Assembly approved postponing the enforcement of Article 1003 until 1 June 2012.

The intention of identifying FEI listed Veterinarians is in line with the Clean Sport initiative and the requirement to ensure there is a clear understanding of the FEI Veterinary and Anti-Doping Regulations adopted in 2010. All veterinarians who must be listed will be invited to take a short multiple choice examination online. Free access to FEI Veterinary Regulations and all other resources will be permitted. 

Further updates on the approach required for Veterinarians accessing the stable area at FEI events (including existing FEI Official Veterinarians) and the basic online examination will be issued by the FEI in 2012. In the meantime, all relevant categories of Veterinarians should start familiarising themselves with the 2012 FEI Veterinary Regulations.

If you have further queries at this time regarding the new education system and online examination please contact Victoria Unt or Graeme Cooke.

Summary of Changes to the 2012 Veterinary Regulations

To view the summary of changes to the 2012 Veterinary Regulations, please click here.

New 2012 FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List Approved by FEI Bureau

The FEI Bureau has approved changes to the current FEI  Equine Prohibited Substances List  to create the 2012 version of the List. The changes were proposed by the FEI List Expert Group and also as a result of feedback from earlier consultations.Only a few changes have been made and a summary is provided here. National Federations must familiarise themselves and their athletes with these changes well in advance of the 2012 Equine Prohibited Substances List coming into force on 1 January 2012.
                                         
The 2012 PDF version of the Equine Prohibited Substances List is avaliable here, additionally the 2012 Banned Substances List and the Controlled Medications List are also avaliable to download seperately. To view the summary of changes from the 2011 Equine Prohibited Substance List that are introduced in 2012, please click here. 

Should you need any further information, please contact the FEI Veterinary Department at Graeme Cooke  or Victoria Unt.

FEI Passports and Recognition Cards

The European Commission  introduced Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 concerning the identification of equines which lays down criteria for national passport issuing bodies to issue national identification documents (passports) which meet the intent of the EU. Such national passports are termed “EU compliant.”

Outside the EU, the approach to FEI passports and Recognition Cards remains the same, but it is important that all National Federations are aware of the situation that now exists  within the EU, and the guidance to EU National Federations for the issuing and use of FEI  Passports and Recognition Cards post this Regulation.

Please read the following documents:

Letter to EU National Federations
Guidelines for National Federations
Summary Q&A Table

Further updates may be issued over time during the transition period.

2012 FEI Prohibited Substances List

Agreed format for medication form 3

FEI Announces detection times for Meloxicam at 72 hours
Link to FEI List of Detection Times  

Thermography and clinical examination

Veterinary Guidances Notes (click here to be re-directed)