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Veterinary Services Act, 2001 (Act No. Xxiii Of 2001) Trade In Equidae Intended For Competitions And Laying Down Conditions For Participation Regulations, 2003 (L.N. 280 Of 2003 )

VETERINARY SERVICES ACT, 2001 (ACT NO. XXIII OF 2001)Trade in Equidae intended for Competitions and laying down Conditions forParticipation Regulations, 2003

IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 34(e) of the Veterinary Services Act,
2001 the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment has made the following regulations:-

Competitions and laying down Conditions for Participation Regulations, 2003.
(2) These regulations lay down the conditions governing trade in equidae intended for competitions and the conditions governing their participation therein.
(3) The scope of these regulations is to implement the provisions found under European Union Council Directive 90/428/EEC on trade in equidae intended for competitions and laying down the conditions for participation therein.

Furthermore, “competition” means any equestrian competition, including horse racing, show-jumping, events, dressage, events reserved for horse-drawn vehicles and showing classes.
Moreover, “Trading Partner” in the meaning of article 2 of the Veterinary Services
Act shall mean –
(a) Member State of the European Community; (b) Third country to the European Community.

(2) The rules of competitions may not discriminate between equidae originating in the territory of Malta and equidae originating in a Member State.

(a) the requirements for entering the competition, in particular the minimum or maximum requirements;
(b) the judging of the competition;
(c) the prize money or profits which may accrue from the competition. (2) However, the obligations referred to in regulation 3 shall not affect the
organisation -
(a) competitions reserved for equidae registered in a specific studbook for the purpose of permitting the improvement of the breed;
(b) regional competitions with a view to selecting equidae; (c) historic or traditional events.
For each competition or type of competition it shall be authorised to reserve, through the bodies officially approved or recognised for that purpose, a certain percentage of the prize money or profits referred to in (1)(c) of this regulation for the safeguard, development and improvement of breeding. The percentage may not exceed 20 %. The criteria for the distribution of these funds shall be communicated to the Member States and to the European Commission.
(3) The general rules for the application of this regulation shall be adopted in accordance with requisites of the European Community and in accordance with the procedure laid down in article 34(e) of the Veterinary Services Act.

Union Council Directive 90/427/EEC, the grounds on which an animal registered in
a Member State is refused entry to a competition must be communicated in writing to the owner or his authorised representative.
(2) In the circumstances described in sub-regulation (1), the owner or his authorised representative is entitled to obtain an expert opinion in accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 8(2) of European Union Council Directive
89/662/EEC, which shall apply mutatis mutandis.