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The new Regulation on animal welfare in transport became effective on
5 January 2007. European Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said: "This
important animal welfare legislation aims to reduce the stress and harm
that animals can experience during land and sea journeys. Among the new
safeguards for animals being introduced are higher standards for vehicles
and equipment, and stricter requirements for those dealing with animals
in transport. The Regulation also provides for measures to ensure the
better enforcement of EU rules in this area, such as the use of satellite
navigation systems."
Better conditions
Under the new rules, vehicles used to transport animals
for 8 hours or more will have to be upgraded and officially approved.
New equipment
in the vehicles will ensure that the microclimate in the vehicle is
more adapted for the animals and stricter watering requirements are set
out.
Special attention is paid to young and new-born animals and females
within one week of giving birth may not be transported at all.
Better
handling
Drivers and attendants of animals in transit will be subject
to compulsory training, and certified to care for the animals from
2008. The new legislation
extends and clarifies the chain of responsibility for the animals,
to include not only transport operators but also traders, drivers, and
staff
at each point of the journey. Given that animals tend to experience
more stress when being loaded and unloaded from vehicles, better rules
for
the handling of animals at these times are set out, as are new requirements
for loading/unloading facilities.
Better enforcement
From now on, any new vehicles to be
used for the long distance transport of animals (over 8 hours) must
be equipped with a satellite navigation
system. This will allow better controls on the enforcement of EU rules
on travel and rest times. Older trucks which are already in use have
until 2009 to install this equipment.
Time and space
Regulation 1/2005/EC does not include new
measures on travelling times or stocking densities, as the Commission’s original proposal had
envisaged, due to Council’s failure to reach a compromise on this
issue at the time (see IP/04/1391). However, Commissioner Kyprianou has
committed to bringing forward proposals on these two important aspects
of animal transport before the end of 2009.
The European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) has already issued opinions on stocking densities for animals
in transport, and the Commission will
closely consult Member States and stakeholders on this issue.
[5 Jan
2007]
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