On 15 April 2021, European Falabella Studbook (EFS) was recognised by the RVO as a daughter studbook of the Mini Falabella studbook in Argentina. The Belgian government also recognised EFS in the course of the summer of 2021. EFS was also given the mandate to issue 'real' Falabella passports. Because TFS, who took over the old Falabella Studbook at the beginning of 2020, did not agree with the decision of the RVO, Sue Eckholdt lodged an objection to this decision with the RVO in the spring of 2021.
The RVO naturally informed the EFS Board, after which the EFS members were also informed. The grounds on which TFS objected were also communicated to the EFS Board. According to the notice of objection, the RVO could not recognise EFS!
In early September, a hearing was organised by the RVO to hear the parties involved. Several factors played a role in the RVO's decision to declare TFS' objection unfounded.
TFS and FSE follow the guidelines of the ACCF. At the end of 2019 FSE has decided to stop and to transfer everything to TFS, as of 28 April 2020 the recognition of FSE has been withdrawn. When the EFS was founded, there was NO other studbook in the European union for the Falabella breed. Due to the Brexit, the UK is no longer a member of the European Union! TFS and EFS are both studbooks with the objective of breeding purebred Falabella horses. Due to the Brexit, the recognition of the UK studbooks has expired for the European Union. TFS is listed as a breeding organisation in third countries. This means that TFS is authorised to issue zootechnical certificates allowing breeders to bring Falabella horses into the European Union as purebreds. With such a zootechnical certificate, breeders are entitled to register their animals with a studbook for the same breed within the European Union. TFS has an interest in ensuring that purebred Falabella horses or their offspring are entered in a herd book for the same breed in the European Union.
EFS is the only studbook for Falabella horses recognised within the European Union! And is therefore the only one! The RVO states that EFS is rightly and solely recognised within the European Union. ACCF and Mini Falabella are both equal according to the legislation. No evidence has been provided by TFS that proved to be correct with regard to the rules and legislation. There is no DNA test proving whether a horse is a Falabella, only a parentage check. EFS has equated ACCF and MiniFalabella. In its investigation, EFS saw no basis for the ACCF to be recognised. In principle, one has to meet the same requirements as in the regulation. ACCF does not meet the requirement of having enough breeding animals! EFS has acted correctly and openly towards the RVO and towards the EFS members.
TFS's objection is unfounded.
