The following is a brief history of the delivery of South African horses to the world:
- Pre-1950’s +-300 000 horses exported by sea
- Followng outbreak of African horse sickness (AHS) in Middle East in late 1950’s, Africa was declared endemic for AHS. Post arrival quarantine in USA became the only mechanism to export horses from Africa.
- In January 1997 the EU ratified the South African horse export protocol which permitted the export of horses from South Africa’s AHS Controlled Area (part of which is the AHS Free Zone) in the Western Cape.
- In April 1997, the HK Government adopted the EU protocol which allowed London News direct entry to HK to compete in the Gr.2 QEII Stakes and win.
- By 2003 Singapore, Malaysia, UAE and Bahrain had also adopted the protocol.
- In February 2004, the second outbreak of AHS occurred in Stellenbosch (Surveillance Zone) which resulted in a two year suspension (the first outbreak occurred in 1999).
- In October 2006, the EU lifted the suspension and direct imports to the EU (and Singapore) resumed. However, the HK and UAE Governments imposed an additional 30 day stop-over in Europe pre-entry to HK and Dubai. At the time, it was suggested that there was too much risk (of introducing AHS) to the China Olympic Games and the Dubai International Racing Carnival. In order to satisfy their concerns, South Africa agreed to develop a new diagnostic test that was capable of proving absence of AHS virus close to the date of departure (see below for progress report).
- At the time of writing, close to 700 horses have been exported from Kenilworth Quarantine Station.
Horseracing South Africa (Pty) Ltd t/a Racing South Africa was formed in 2005 to co-ordinate the efforts of a number of different organizations attempting to develop South African horse exports and by association with the SA Equine Trade Council (S21), to grow South Africa’s market share of the global bloodstock business.
Financial support from its shareholders (breeders, operators and owners) also stabilized the funding of Racing South Africa’s strategic partners: the Equine Research Centre (ERC) in partnership with the Thoroughbred Racing Trust; the AHS Trust; the Import Export Working Group and the SA Equine Trade Council t/a SAFHorse. In the five years since inception, Racing South Africa has invested over R15 million in support of the above organisations.
In respect of finding a “South African solution” for the long term benefit of South Africa’s growing equine export market, the following strategy was supported by the Board of Racing South Africa:
1. REGULATORY
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) provides guidelines for countries trading in animals and animal products. Protocols are negotiated between trading partners using these guidelines.
2. SCIENTIFIC
To develop veterinary and scientific solutions in support of the regulatory changes achieved.
3. LOGISTICAL
To introduce a reliable and professionally managed delivery system through advance planning of export schedules, the provision of modern and cost effective transport solutions and the introduction of healthy competition to the shipping market.
1. REGULATORY
The South African Export Protocol was developed on the principles described in the OIE’s 1992 Code Chapter on AHS. Revisions to the AHS Code and Surveillance Chapters became the primary focus of the SA Veterinary Services which was assisted by members of the Import Export Working Group comprising Professor Alan Guthrie and Dr Beverley Zietsman.
The first round of changes was achieved in May 2008 when the General Assembly of the OIE adopted revisions to the AHS Code. Additional changes are being considered ahead of next year’s General Assembly which are summarized as follows:
- Official recognition by the OIE of South Africa’s AHS Free Zone
- Greatly reduced period of suspension following an outbreak of AHS in the AHS Controlled Area
- Once the Real Time PCR Diagnostic Test (see below) has been validated for international trade, to dramatically reduce the length of Pre-export quarantine (PEQ)
- Subject to a reduced PEQ, to negotiate with importing countries to export from a vector-proof facility in Johannesburg under total lock-up conditions
The AHS Trust provides support to the State Veterinary Department’s efforts to maintain freedom in the AHS Controlled Area, functions include:
- Providing an early warning system during outbreaks
- Improved reporting during outbreaks
- Improved collection of samples for analysis
- Improved communications via the Trust website: www.africanhorsesickness.co.za, equine data-bases and regular media releases within the limits permitted by Veterinary Services. This includes educating horse owners regarding the movement of horses into the AHS Controlled Area.
2. SCIENTIFIC
Whilst the OIE regulatory framework provides the basis for international trade, irrefutable scientific data provides tools to lobby for changes to protocols with individual trading partners. Diagnostic testing and the development of a new vaccine for AHS are important risk mitigating factors in the minds of importing countries and have formed the nucleus of the work of Professor Alan Guthrie’s team at the Equine Research Centre (ERC) at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort.
The ERC has developed a new generation, rapid detection diagnostic test for AHS (as well as for Piroplasmosis and Equine Encephalosis) that relies on evidence of the DNA of the virus. Called a Real Time PCR, the test is fast (result potentially within 2hrs of receiving the sample), efficient and reliable. In respect of validating the test for international trade purposes, there are four stages and the following is a progress update: the initial design (Stage 1) and optimization (Stage 2) of the required validation process have been completed and published. The standardization and in-house validation (Stage 3) of the process is currently approximately 80% complete and has involved the establishment of the test within South African laboratories. The final validation (Stage 4) involves running tests in other international laboratories and collaboration is being sought with Dubai and Spain.
The other major concern of importing countries is the ability to quickly and safely contain an outbreak of AHS. The only licensed AHS vaccine presently available is the product manufactured at Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) in Pretoria. It is a modified live virus vaccine. Countries free of AHS are reluctant to use this product as a vaccine strain could theoretically be introduced to the midge population.
Using new vaccine technologies available, in collaboration with an international pharmaceutical company, the ERC achieved a major breakthrough last year when they determined proof of concept and found significant levels of protection in the trial horses when exposed to the virus. The recombinant vaccine induces a sterilizing immunity in vaccinated animals and amongst other factors is safe to use internationally. Similar vaccines are used internationally to protect horses against Equine Influenza and West Nile Virus and this has huge potential to protect the world’s horse population against AHS. 3 serotypes are scheduled for trial early next year which will mean that 4 of the 9 serotypes will have been completed with worldwide patents. Significant funding estimated to be at least €3 million is required if trials on all remaining serotypes are to be completed.
3. LOGISTICAL
Since resuming exports in October 2006 (after the last shut down in 2004), Racing South Africa’s aim has been to publish its export schedule a year in advance to assist exporters with their long term planning.
From the perspective of shipping horses from Cape Town, owing to the absence of scheduled cargo freighters positioning into Cape Town (all freight ex Johannesburg), chartering or part-chartering aircraft has been the only solution available to exporters and importers alike.
In collaboration with shipping agents currently active in the horse market: Candice Hobday (Hobday Equestrian Enterprises); JJ van der Linden (Global Bloodstock Logistics) and Kevin Connolly (CTB International Bloodstock Forwarding), Racing South Africa aims, when possible, to improve efficiency by combining imports and exports on the same charter.
IMPORT EXPORT WORKING GROUP MATTERS
In a major breakthrough, the Director of Veterinary Services recently approved Kenilworth Quarantine Station as a post arrival quarantine station to receive international racehorses for competition purposes. An announcement regarding South Africa’s first international horserace is anticipated shortly.
A team of South Africa’s leading veterinarians is travelling to Hong Kong this weekend to participate in the International Movement of Horses Committee meeting scheduled to take place on 13 and 14 December. Prof Alan Guthrie is South Africa’s official nominee, but will be joined by senior State Veterinarians Dr’s Julia Panne-Reeves and Gary Buhrmann. The Committee is a sub-committee of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and aims to improve the way in which horses move internationally.
Peter Gibson
CEO
Racing South Africa
Email: [email protected]
