APGAW has supported a delegation of associate members who met with Defra Minister Alun Michael to discuss some potential welfare problems with the new horse passport scheme.  From 30 June 2004 all English horse owners must have applied for a horse passport under the new scheme, which is designed to prevent horses that have been given certain drugs from being slaughtered for human consumption.  Organisations such as the ILPH and the RSPCA fear that unless the new horse passport scheme is properly monitored and enforced it will be detrimental to some horses and responsible owners.  Such organisations are concerned that there is not yet a central database to record details of individual horses in an effective way and that there needs to be an effective identification system for horses, preferably by microchip.  David McDowell, RSPCA equine veterinary officer has also said that the RSPCA do have some concerns that the passport scheme may lead to an increase in the number of old horses being abandoned where euthanasia costs prove prohibitive for their owner.