Byrne seeks to strengthen rules on animal transport

Date: 07/10/1999

By Renée Cordes

HEALTH Commissioner David Byrne plans to strengthen EU-wide rules which seek to ensure that animals are properly fed, watered and rested when they are being transported from one place to another.

A spokesman for the Commissioner said this week that he was planning a speedy review of Union legislation laying down minimum welfare standards for livestock transported within the EU's borders which entered into force in January 1998. Under these rules, animals being transported in the Union must be rested, fed and watered every eight hours, and are entitled to a 24-hour rest at the end of the journey.

The spokeswoman said the review was necessary because of "problems" with the way the legislation is being applied by member states despite the steps already taken by the Commission to boost implementation, which include expanding its staff of field inspectors.

The move comes amid growing concerns among animal welfare groups about some member states' failure to implement the standards, especially when horses and other livestock designated for slaughter are transported over long distances from eastern Europe into EU member states.

They argue that the Union directive has not yet been properly enforced in all member states, especially Italy, which has come under fire for adopting national measures a year later than stipulated in the legislation.

A Commission inspection in April 1998 found that many road vehicles travelling longer than eight hours did not have adequate facilities, as required under the directive, and that animals imported from Poland were often not properly cared for.

"In the directive, it is foreseen that animals are rested after a certain period of time, but the question is how these rules should be implemented if the journey started outside the EU," said Sonja Van Tichelen, deputy director of the Eurogroup for Animal Welfare.

She said, for example, that travel time should be counted from the beginning of the journey, even when the trip began in a non-EU country.

The organisation, along with other animal welfare and animal rights groups, plans to file three separate complaints with the Commission this week criticising Italy's failure to implement the measures properly.

Health Commissioner David Byrne plans to strengthen EU-wide rules which seek to ensure that animals are properly fed, watered and rested when they are being transported from one place to another.