EMHF Chair Henri Pouret Meets Commissioner Varhelyi

On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, a delegation of Filière cheval, EMHF and UET met with European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, in charge of health & animal welfare, to discuss the challenges faced by the equine sector in relation to the proposed regulation on the protection of animals during transport.

Henri Pouret (far right) meets with Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi (second from left, red tie) et al.

The meeting was attended by Olivier de Seyssel, President of Filière Cheval and Vice-President of the Société du Trotteur Français; Henri Pouret, Deputy CEO of France Galop and President of the European & Mediterranean Horseracing Federation; Peter Truzla, President of the Union Européenne du Trot ; and Tanguy Courtois, Head of Public Affairs.

This meeting, initiated by MEP Virginie Joron and held in the presence of Valérie Deloge and Gilles Pennelle, was an opportunity to share with the European Commissioner of the importance of taking into account the specific characteristics of the equine industry when considering future revisions to the animal transport legislation.

During the discussions, representatives reiterated the sector’s specific requests, namely:

• The explicit inclusion of horse racing in the scope of exemptions provided for certain activities (training, equestrian and leisure sports), to avoid any ambiguity or divergent interpretation;

• The introduction of a specific exemption for equine breeding and rearing activities, as well as for auction sales.

This visit to Brussels is part of a coordinated effort at both national and European levels with all stakeholders in the equine sector, to ensure that its specificities are fully considered in the development of public policies. This latest meeting forms part of a broader dialogue initiated from several years, which has led to constructive engagement with various stakeholders and political groups.