Brussels, 16/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - In a declaration, adopted on Thursday 15 March, the European Parliament (once again) recommends “the establishment of a maximum 8-hour journey limit for animals transported in the European Union for the purpose of being slaughtered”.
Council Regulation No1/2005 acknowledges that the “transport of animals over long journeys, including animals for slaughter, should be limited as far as possible” but still allows, as the EP points out, very long transport in terms of distance and duration, “causing animals severe distress, suffering and even death during such journeys”. MEPs note that the 8hours.eu petition calling for the establishment of a maximum 8-hour journey limit for animals sent for slaughter is supported by nearly one million Europeans. The EP calls on the Commission and Council to review Regulation No 1/2005 to establish a maximum 8-hour limit for journeys of animals transported for the purpose of being slaughtered.
The EP Intergroup for Animal Welfare and Conservation, chaired by Dan Jorgensen, MEP, welcomed the initiative and hailed the fact that over half of all MEPs had supported the declaration to limit animal transport, for purposes of slaughter, to eight hours at most.
“Travel today can last several days, causing extreme suffering to many animals, especially the old and young, especially during the warmer seasons, and this is completely unnecessary and unacceptable”, Dan Jorgensen said. In his view, animals should be slaughtered as near to their home as possible and “the transport of live animals over long distances should be replaced by the transport of carcasses, for the sake of the animals, the environment and the economies of rural areas”, he concluded. (LC/transl.jl)