The European Parliament recommended, on Thursday 20 January, that the rules guaranteeing animal welfare during transport be strengthened, although some MEPs from the Greens/EFA and The Left groups said that they would have liked to have seen more ambition on the maximum duration of transport or the conditions for exporting live animals to third countries.
The amendment tabled by several MEPs (including those from the Greens/EFA group) calling for the duration of animal transport to be limited to 8 hours, except for transport by sea (maximum 24 hours in this case), was rejected in plenary. Members of the Greens/EFA group said they regretted the rejection of their amendments (see EUROPE 12868/9).
In fact, the compromise reached in the Committee of Inquiry was retained: the duration of the transport of farm animals for slaughter should in principle not exceed 8 hours.
Adjustments for the benefit of farmers. Some of the original demands of the European Parliament Committee of Inquiry on Animal Transport were slightly modified in plenary.
The Parliament calls on the Commission, by adopting (372 votes in favour, 280 against and 43 abstentions) an amendment, notably from the Renew Europe group, to set travel time limits for unweaned animals based on peer-reviewed scientific studies and considers that the transport of unweaned animals should be avoided and should not be allowed for calves less than 4 weeks old, except in cases where the transport is carried out by farmers over a distance of less than 50 km.
By adopting another amendment tabled by the EPP and S&D groups, the European Parliament considers that the transport of pregnant animals should be avoided and that the transport of animals in their last trimester of pregnancy should be “limited to a maximum duration of 4 hours”. The draft recommendations included a ban on the transport of animals in their last trimester of pregnancy.
There is no control system for the transport of animals to third countries. MEPs call on Member States to inspect all deliveries to third countries to ensure that animals are fed and hydrated, that watering devices are working properly and that animals have sufficient space and headroom. Exports of live animals should only be approved if they comply with EU animal welfare standards, the European Parliament insists.
Compromise between groups. Daniel Buda (EPP, Romania), rapporteur, said that the text of the recommendations, which is the result of a compromise, offers “the necessary guarantees to strengthen animal welfare standards during transport, while ensuring the continuation of economic activity”.
Moving to carcass-only transport is a long-term goal, according to the rapporteur.
Isabel Carvalhais (S&D, Portugal), another rapporteur, called for the reform to include provisions to protect poultry, rabbits and fish.
The Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, said that there was a need to “gather knowledge” on a number of issues such as exports of animals to third countries, better protection of vulnerable animals, travel times and transport conditions (maximum temperatures).
For Ms Kyriakides, alternatives to transporting unweaned calves and cows at the end of their lives “are particularly relevant”.
Stella Kyriakides said to the MEPs that, although the Commission is due to make proposals in 2023 on the revision of animal welfare rules, “we are not waiting until 2023 to tackle some of the points that you have highlighted”.
For example, the Commission is already working on measures to be adopted in early 2022 to facilitate official checks on the transport of live animals by sea.
These include: - enhanced checks on travel contingency plans; - inspection teams comprised of veterinarians and engineers; - requirements for authorities to maintain records of weather forecasts; - a common EU database to record results of official controls on livestock vessels.
In addition, the Commission will carry out audits in 2022 on livestock vessels and on the road transport of unweaned calves.
“Rest assured that we remain fully committed to improving the current legislative framework”, promised Stella Kyriakides. Link to her speech: https://bit.ly/3tFIZRj (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)