Brussels, 12/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The agriculture committee of the European Parliament is fully aware of how important it is to put an end to the interminable transport, sometimes in frightful conditions, that is inflected on livestock. With the adoption (31 votes to four and three abstentions) of the report by Janusz Wojciechoswski (ECR, Poland) on the protection of animals during transport, the EP agriculture committee considers that measures to restrict the time taken to transport animals to slaughter to eight hours should be considered. MEPs state that it is nonetheless necessary, for some species, to foresee exceptions to this (linked to the geographical conditions and supported by scientific evidence), authorising longer periods of transport.
An eight-hour journey limit would not in itself suffice to improve animal welfare, which often depends more on proper vehicle equipment and on the good handling of animals, MEPs add. Consequently, the parliamentary committee calls for science-based improvements to the conditions of transport (space allowances and watering conditions).
Support to local slaughterhouses.
The rapporteur considers that the transport of meat and other animal products is technically easier and more rational from an economic point of view than the transport of live animals. MEPs call in substance for measures to be taken, aimed at supporting local selling points and a shorter supply chain for food products. European policy in this area must therefore be reviewed and geared to support for local processing and for small local slaughterhouses, as well as for meat processing based on the delivery of animals to slaughter over short distances.
In order to resolve the persisting problems relating to the welfare of animals during transport, existing legislation in all member states must be implemented correctly and uniformly, MEPs say. In their view, it is necessary to have more on-the-spot inspections, and national penalties imposed on those who contravene that legislation should be harmonised and made more daunting.
The report comes as an answer to the assessment made by the European Commission of existing rules in force since January 2007. In March 2012, the Parliament adopted a written declaration calling for an eight-hour limit to be placed on the time of transport of live animals intended for slaughter, and many MEPs signed a petition along those lines. (LC/transl.jl)