Brussels, 12/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - Two European organisations (Eyes on Animals and the Animal Welfare Foundation) have denounced the incompetence of the European Commission and certain member states in dealing with complaints about ill-treatment meted out to animals when transporting cattle. Lesley Moffat, director of Eyes on Animals declared that, “two years have passed since suffering linked to this trade was exposed. I am shocked to see that despite the fact that they are constantly being informed about these problems, the Commission, certain member states and transporters are still failing to ensure that this trade is carried out in accordance with the law”.
In January 2011, these two organisations, as well as Compassion in World Farming carried out investigations at the border between the European Union and Turkey (EUROPE 10529). They made further investigations between 22 and 29 June and their observations are alarming because, despite tackling this problem last January, the transport of many animals is still breaching European law.
The two associations subsequently revealed that out of 31 vehicles inspected at the Bulgarian border with Turkey, 18 (58%) violate Regulation 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport. Ill-treatment is still clearly on a scale that is similar to that denounced in January 2012, namely: non-respect of maximum animal storage densities, limited water available and poor bedding conditions. This results in high ammonia levels that make it difficult for the animals to breathe.
The balance sheet does not get any better. The 28-hour regulation stipulates that after this time, transporters should provide water and feed to animals, as well as allow them a 24-hour rest period - but this is blatantly being ignored. Investigations revealed that certain animals were transported non-stop for 60 hours between Austria and their destination in Turkey.
These problems are made worse by the hours or even days of waiting at the border. No progress on these matters has been observed by the organisations during their investigations. They have again denounced the fact that transporters arrive at borders without documents being correctly completed and with loads that exceed authorised quantities.
During 2011, almost a million sheep and cattle were transported from the EU to Turkey. The majority of animals are sent for slaughter but some are sent for breeding or fattening up. The countries sending the animals are Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Transport companies that cross the EU to get to Turkey include these countries but also the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Croatia, according to the organisation, Compassion for World Farming.
These organisations have therefore criticised the lack of progress made. In many cases, the animals are injured or die during transportation. This is why Peter Stevenson from Compassion for World Farming is urging the European Commission to proceed to an outright suspension of exporting live animals to Turkey. (EL-stag/trans and/fl)