Animal transport

• Animals on their way to sale or slaughter will be transported in more comfortable conditions, following the entry into force of new animal welfare rules on Friday (5 January). Under the animal transport regulation, vehicles used to transport animals for eight hours or more will have to be officially approved. Drivers and animal handlers will face compulsory training.

Controversial proposals on the regulation of ‘advanced therapies’ - tissue engineering used to build skin, bone and cartilage from human cells - will return to the European Parliament’s environment committee on 22 January.