Brussels, 10/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has adopted a proposal laying down new rules for the long distance transportation of horses, goats, cattle, sheep and pigs in order to ensure welfare. The proposal introduces standards for ventilation, temperature and humidity control in lorries carrying livestock on journeys longer than eight hours in the European Union, and the obligation for the lorries to be equipped with a monitoring and warning system recording humidity and temperature. The new rules are based on scientific advice from the Scientific Committee for Animal Health and Welfare which concluded that thermal stress is one of the main health and welfare problems facing livestock during transport. The costs of the new rules (estimated to be between 3 and 5% of the total cost of the lorry) has to be weighed against the benefits, both in terms of animal welfare and of economics, of the improved ventilation which will reduce mortality during travel and ensure the animals arrive at their designation in a healthier condition.
The Commission proposal will upgrade existing Community rules on the protection of animals during transport which requires that transport of any animal be undertaken only be officially authorised transport companies, which have to respect maximum loading densities and travel times. Transport of animals over 8 hours in duration is only authorised if a route plan if provided, upgraded vehicles are used and resting times at approved staging points are provided for feeding and watering the animals. Once adopted, the new legislation will apply as from 1 January 2002 onwards, when all vehicles will have to be equipped in line with the new standards. Older vehicles will have to meet the new standards by 31 December 2003
In a statement, the European Consumer Affairs Commissioner, David Byrne, said that "long-distance transport should be the exception rather than the rule. When it is necessary, it must take place under conditions that do not endanger the animals or cause unnecessary suffering".
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE: 10/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - On the margins of the informal Agriculture Council in Ostersund (Sweden), the Italian Minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio reasserted the Italian government's determination to have the headquarters of the new Food Safety Authority based in the town of Parma.