The draft report on improvements to animal transport rules was deemed too timid by some MEPs on Wednesday 16 June.
The rapporteurs of the Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport, Daniel Buda (EPP, Romania) and Isabel Carvalhais (S&D, Portugal), presented their draft reports (https://bit.ly/2TCXOnC ) and recommendations (https://bit.ly/2THLzX2 ) at a meeting of the Committee.
The report and recommendations were welcomed by most committee members, but several MEPs, mostly from the Green/EFA and The Left groups, called for more ambitious measures.
Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA, Austria) called for a species-by-species approach to transport. He argued for a ban on the transport of unweaned animals (such as calves). In his view, there should be time limits on transport by boat.
Billy Kelleher (Renew Europe, Ireland) insisted on the scientific validation of transport modes. Decisions must be made on the basis of scientific evidence, he insisted.
Caroline Roose (Greens/EFA, French) intends to table an amendment calling for an 8-hour time limit on the transport of animals and another calling for a ban on the export of live animals to third countries.
Anja Hazekamp (The Left, Dutch) criticised the report as “disappointing”.
The members of this committee of inquiry have until 5 July to submit their amendments. The examination of the amendments will take place on 6 September in committee. The vote in the committee of inquiry is scheduled for 2 December 2021. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)