Des Leadon

MEP Hilde Vautmans and MEP Benoit Cassart visited Coolmore with Des Leadon MA MVB MSC and Joe Hernon, chairman of the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) on June 9. Vautmans is the chairperson of the Horse Group in the EU Parliament and Cassart, also a member, is in charge of the Animal Transport dossier. Leadon and Hernon highlighted the problems facing the Irish industry if new transport rules are not modified to include Irish animals alongside the high health animals in the racing and sporting disciplines. Said Hernon...

When someone as measured and experienced in his professional role as Des Leadon describes a situation as "the most potent threat to this industry there's ever been" then it is wise not to brush these words aside as hyperbole.  The European Commission (EC), under the auspices of its Farm to Fork Strategy, has in the past few years been reviewing animal welfare legislation within the European Union (EU). As part of this work the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was instructed to deliver an independent report on the welfare of...

The 2021 breeding season was hit by the perfect storm of ongoing Covid travel restrictions and the end of the transition period that meant Britain's exit from the European Union is now complete. Brexit has been a thorn in the industry's side for five years. For those in Britain who were opposed to it, it has long been considered a gratuitous act of economic self-harm for the country, but the damage done is not restricted to that island. Brexit has affected modes of operation for untold businesses within neighbouring European...