RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Veterinary Services has announced a transition to a new extended equine permit, which will be issued in coordination with and accepted by other participating states.
Effective immediately, the department will transition from the Equine Interstate Movement Event Permit to the Extended Equine Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. As with the current permit, the EECVI allows horse owners traveling out of state with their animals for horse shows and festivals to do so for up to six months, as long as certain health criteria are met. The Equine Interstate Movement Event Permit will no longer be accepted by other states after 2019 and more states are accepting the EECVI.
The EECVI is currently available and can only be obtained through GlobalVetLink. The Equine Event Permit is also available until June 30 and will be honored until it expires.
Prior to each movement, the equine owner or agent must log into the GlobalVetLink database and obtain a Health Declaration and Movement Permit, attesting that the animal is healthy before it travels. In order to remain a valid document, the Equine Infectious Anemia test form and the HDMP must be kept together (official digital copies are acceptable).
“In order to transport a horse, mule, donkey, pony, miniature horse or other equine across state lines, owners are currently required to obtain a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection along with a negative test result for Equine Infectious Anemia, also known as a Coggins test, for each animal,” said Dr. Charlie Broaddus, State Veterinarian and Director, VDACS Division of Animal and Food Industry Services. “The CVI, commonly known as a health certificate, requires that an accredited veterinarian inspect each equine for signs of disease to ensure that it appears healthy for travel, and the regular, 30 day CVI, will continue to be available. The EECVI is an option for horse owners that extends the time frame from 30 days to up to six months from the CVI inspection date or until the expiration of the Coggins test, whichever comes first, as long as owners attest that the animal is healthy prior to travel and record the movement information electronically.”
Additional information, including the list of states that will accept an EECVI, can be found at www.globalvetlink.com/products/eecvi.
— Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services