Whether the restricted use of a small number of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be permitted in Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) competition will be put to a vote at the 2010 General Assembly, following a resolution passed by the FEI Bureau today.

The present Equine Prohibited List and its accompanying Rules and Veterinary Regulations will remain in effect until April 4, 2010. As of April 5, 2010, the FEI will implement the October 20 Prohibited Substances List, a more detailed version of the present Equine Prohibited List which received no specific objections during the consultation period (four weeks prior to the assembly meeting). The new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations and revised Veterinary Regulations, which both received strong support at the General Assembly, will also be implemented on April 5, 2010.

In the interim, the List Group, which will be reviewed to include representatives from additional stakeholders including relevant animal welfare groups, will conduct a full review of the Equine Prohibited Substances List, with all the relevant and necessary research, and will take into account all comments from interest groups received following the 2009 General Assembly vote. In particular, the List Group will be looking at NSAIDs and will further review whether or not the use of these substances in competition, alone and at specifically prescribed levels, is a threat to horse welfare and whether or not these substances, at specific levels, are performance enhancing.

Legal concerns will be addressed to see whether the restricted use of NSAIDs in competition is in conflict with any national law