Disease check: Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow (left) unveils quarantine and inspection arrangements for horses participating in the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events.

Stringent quarantine and inspection arrangements for horses participating in the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events will be implemented to prevent disease, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow says.

He said today Hong Kong has good experience in horse health.

"Hong Kong has an overall advantage in organising the events given its extensive experience in horse racing, its status in equine health and its world renowned regulatory framework for equine diseases which is well understood by the international community," he said.

As the animal health authority in Hong Kong, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department is responsible for the inspection and quarantine of horses participating in the events.

The Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events will be held in Hong Kong August to October 2008. There will be dressage, show jumping and cross-country events for six sets of medals.

Dr Chow estimated more than 200 horses will be imported for the Olympic events, with up to 80 horses joining the Paralympic competitions. He said a trial will be held next year, where 10 horses will be imported to test the quarantine and inspection arrangements.

Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Dr Thomas Sit said the import health requirements for the horses have been formed after consultation with the World Organisation for Animal Health, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Dr Sit said according to the arrangements, horses for the events will be imported from various countries via quarantine stables located in several designated transportation hubs. Imported horses will undergo seven days pre-export quarantine and 10 days post-arrival isolation.

The horses should show no clinical signs of disease, undergo blood tests and vaccinations, including those against flu and Japanese encephalitis. The veterinary authority of the exporting places should then issue health certificates for each horse.

Dr Sit said his department would issue special permits for the importation of these equestrian horses. Applications for the permits will be processed six months prior to the events. After arrival, equestrian horses will be sent to isolation stables at Sha Tin and Beas River where they will be monitored.

"We will review the arrangements to take into account prevailing equine disease conditions in other countries and places and introduce relevant arrangements when necessary," Dr Sit said.