Livestock to get transport upgrade

Animals could get improved rights on long distance journeys, following a vote in the European Parliament on Tuesday.

According to MEPs in the environment committee, animals should never be transported for more than eight hours, except in remote areas where there are no slaughterhouses.

The commission had proposed that after nine hours transport time all animals should automatically get 12 hours rest

Parliamentarians on the environment committee reported that support for the change was “overwhelming”.

They also voted for improved access to water and better temperature regulation.

But the committee faces a fight to keep the eight hours restriction, in the teeth of opposition from national governments at next week’s agriculture council.

A proposal to improve the welfare of transported animals was tabled by the European Commission in July 2003.

As well as calling for standardised rest rights, the commission hoped to improve ventilation and access to food and water on long journeys.

Staging points, at which animals have traditionally been allowed to rest, would be avoided as it is generally here that diseases are spread and animals injure themselves whilst leaving or entering the vehicle.

Horses would have to be transported in individual stalls on all long distance journeys, whilst sick and heavily pregnant animals could not be transported at all, and no animal could be tied during transportation.

The proposal also imposes a total ban on the transport of very young piglets, lambs and calves.

It is currently scheduled to make it to a plenary vote after March.

• Previous article
• Next article