If and when your equine needs treatment the attending vet can check the food chain status via the National ChipChecker – especially if no documents are present as is often the case in an emergency. If your equine is already excluded from the food chain, the vet will be able to administer ‘Controlled Drugs’ without cause for concern over affecting the equine’s food chain status. Controlled drugs are often a cheaper alternative to the drugs that allow the equine to remain ‘Included’ in the food chain.  

Cases of theft of equines have been reported in which the equines were in the food chain as these equines reach a higher price at slaughter. However, if the equine is ‘Excluded’ on the National ChipChecker, then it is less likely to be stolen for this reason.  

Excluding your equine and notifying the relevant Passport Issuing Organisation will mean that your equine will remain ‘Excluded’ no matter how many times it is bought and sold in the future.