MEPs to rethink 8 hour livestock journey limit
Members of the European Parliament have passed a resolution to reconsider limiting livestock journey times for transport of animals for slaughter to a maximum of eight hours.
During a debate in the European Parliament on Wednesday (12 December), MEPs heard that more animals were being transported in the EU in “persistently sub-standard conditions”.
But the report before parliament stated that limiting livestock transport to eight hours would not by itself be enough to solve animal welfare problems.
MEPs called for science-based improvements in transport conditions, including space and water allowances. The use of proper vehicle equipment and good handling of animals was also essential, they noted.
Poor enforcement of rules by member states was highlighted as a concern so more on-the-spot inspections would be required with tougher punishments for rule-breakers.
Measures to restrict the time taken to transport animals to slaughter to eight hours should be considered, they said, but geographical and science-based exceptions for certain species must be allowed.
To avoid long journeys to abattoirs, the EU should promote the use of local ones and consider an eight-hour cap on journey times, they added.
The EU should help create short and transparent food supply chains and take measures to halt the decline of small, local abattoirs and promote local processing, MEPs said.
“I want a zero tolerance approach – if we find any evidence of slipping welfare standards then we will not hesitate to take action.”
Farm minister David Heath
“Mahatma Gandhi said that the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals,” said Polish MEP Janusz Wojciechowski.
“We should do everything in our power to reduce their suffering. Our call for measures to cut transport times for animals, including a concrete step towards setting an eight-hour limit for transport of animals for slaughter proves that we do care for their wellbeing.”
Parliament had been debating a report by the EU agriculture committee in October that called on the commission to reconsider its opposition to an eight-hour limit for live animal transport. The resolution was adopted by full parliament on Wednesday (12 October).
The numbers of animals transported within the EU rose substantially from 2005-2009, by 70%, in the case of pigs. One-third of these journeys took eight hours or more.
Earlier this year, live animal exports resumed from Ramsgate port in Kent. Thanet District Council temporarily closed the port to live exports following an incident in September when more than 40 sheep died. However, the port has reopened to the dismay of animal rights campaigners.
The RSPCA insists the port has inadequate facilities to help animals in the event of an emergency and said it planned to take legal action to halt further live exports from the port.
Its chief executive, Gavin Grant, said: “We will not step away from this – the battle to end live exports is far from over. The lack of proper facilities at the port of Ramsgate and the failure to thoroughly inspect animals as they loaded aboard ship are both unacceptable. This cannot go on.”
Farm minister David Heath has announced tougher welfare controls in the live export of animals and said inspections would be stepped up at Ramsgate.
He said: “We would prefer to see animals slaughtered as close as possible to where they are reared, but while live animal exports remain a legal trade under European laws we must allow it to continue.
“Our animal welfare laws must be followed to the letter so that no animal is made to suffer during transport. Until I am entirely satisfied that there is no longer a risk to the welfare of animals at Ramsgate, I have ordered AHVLA to check every consignment of live animals scheduled to pass through the port.
“I want a zero tolerance approach – if we find any evidence of slipping welfare standards then we will not hesitate to take action.”
Clash over future of livestock exports
Live animal exports suspended at Ramsgate port