New registration requirements affecting Northern Ireland farmers and horse owners are coming into force in 2026. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is urging early action on equine establishment registration and preparing for changes to pesticide record keeping.

From 1 February 2026, anyone applying for a horse passport, updating an existing passport, or seeking a replacement will need an Equine Establishment Number (EEN). DAERA advises owners to register their equine establishments now to avoid delays. A valid passport remains a legal requirement, and without a current EEN and up-to-date passport, owners may be unable to sell, buy, move, transport, or export their animals.

Travel to Great Britain, Ireland, or other countries for competitions or shows also depends on an up-to-date passport and, in some cases, an export health certificate, both of which require an EEN. Details are available on the DAERA website.

The Official Controls (Plant Protection Products) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 apply to professional users, including farmers, who use plant protection products such as insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, molluscicides, and plant growth regulators. Businesses and operators can be inspected to check compliance with existing pesticide legislation.

Registration with DAERA confirms that a farmer is complying with the regulations. A registration link has been live on the DAERA website for some time. Separate registers are maintained by Defra for businesses in Great Britain.

The Ulster Farmers' Union has discussed with DAERA a transition from paper record keeping to electronic official control records for pesticides. DAERA has progressed a pilot template for use and testing, and 2026 will be a consultative transitional window for users.

On horticulture, UFU representatives attended a meeting with Defra officials about access to peat and the need for a meaningful transitional window to sustain the industry in Northern Ireland. Discussions covered infrastructure, supply challenges, economic supports, and mechanisms needed to keep growers in business and maintain local food supplies.

Separately, the outlook for the 2026 EU harvest has weakened because of heatwaves and drought in western and southern Europe. Total EU and UK grain production is forecast at 286.6 million tonnes, down from 311.3 million tonnes in 2025.