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Proposed options to improve equine traceability

Have your say

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking feedback on 4 options to improve equine identification and traceability. We want to improve New Zealand's ability to respond quickly and effectively to equine disease outbreaks to minimise the impact on the equine population and economy.

The proposed options aim to:

  • strengthen biosecurity preparedness of our equine sector against potential equine disease incursion or outbreaks 
  • provide consistent data requirements for equine identification and traceability across the equine sector and support some trade, exports, and international movement of equines.

This consultation opened on 15 June and all submissions must be received by 11:59pm on 28 July 2026.

What's being proposed?

All proposed options, apart from the status quo, would involve developing regulations under the Biosecurity Act 1993. 

Option 1: Status quo – continue voluntary participation in the National Equine Identification and Traceability (NEIT) System – a national equine identification register that uses microchips as the primary identifier.

Option 2: Director-General exemptions – mandatory participation with some exemptions decided by the Director-General of MPI.

Option 3: Targeted approach – mandatory herd registry for all equines, and microchipping for higher-risk equines.

Option 4: Full mandatory participation – all domestic equines registered and microchipped.

Further details are in the discussion document.

Discussion document

Improving equine traceability in New Zealand [PDF, 4.5 MB]

Related information

Biosecurity Act 1993 – NZ Legislation

National Equine Identification and Traceability website

Making your submission

Submit your feedback on the options by 11:59pm on Tuesday 28 July 2026.

We’d prefer you use our online survey but you can also send submissions by email or post.

We have prepared an online form and template for written or email submissions. Consultation questions in the discussion document, submission template, and online form are identical.

Online

Make an online submission – Microsoft forms

Email

Email your submission to BiosecurityPartnerships.Policy@mpi.govt.nz

You can use our template to help you prepare your submission.

Submission template [DOCX, 744 KB]

Post

Consultation: Equine Identification and Traceability
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6011
New Zealand.

What to include in submissions sent by email or post

Make sure you tell us in your submission: 

  • the title of the consultation document (Improving equine identification and traceability in New Zealand)
  • your name and title
  • your organisation's name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, and whether your submission represents the whole organisation or a section of it)
  • your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email). 

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

MPI business units