EU proposes new limits on transporting animals
Journeys to slaughter will be limited to nine hours.
The European Commission has proposed changes in EU legislation to limit the maximum journey time for animals being transported, updating the rules for the first time in 20 years.
The changes will see the maximum journey time for animals transported for slaughter reduced to nine hours. There is currently no upper limit to the journey time, other than a requirement for animals to be allowed to rest for 24 hours after 24 to 29 hours of being transported, depending on the species.
The proposals will also increase the minimum space each animal is required to have while being transported, and impose stricter conditions on transport in extreme temperatures, including requiring animals to be transported at night when the temperature is higher than 30°C.
Around 1.6 billion animals are transported within and from the EU every year.
Before they become law, the proposals will first have to be approved by the European Parliament and Council.
Maroš Šefčovič, vice-president of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations, said: “The way we treat nature, including animals, says a lot about what kind of humans we are and I am pleased that today we are making progress for animal welfare.”
The proposed legislation has been welcomed by World Horse Welfare. According to the charity, the changes represent an important step towards ending long-distance transport to slaughter and could reduce the suffering of around 14,500 equines a year.
Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare, said: "This week has seemed like Christmas come early. Alongside the recent news that the UK government is moving forward with legislation to ban the export of horses to slaughter from the UK, we are now equally delighted that the European Commission have proposed a nine-hour journey limit for horses sent to slaughter, putting an end to these completely unjustifiable long journeys.
“The line has not quite been crossed yet and how any new regulation is enforced will be critical to its success, we need the support of EU member states to end this trade in horses for good. Nevertheless this announcement marks a huge step in the right direction.”
However, some animal welfare groups have criticised the proposals for not going far enough.
Owen Gibbons, regional director of campaigns and advocacy for Compassion in World Farming, said: “What’s needed is what EU citizens want – a ban on the export of live animals to non-EU countries, and much stricter rules to limit to transport times, ensure journeys are properly adjusted to take into account weather conditions, as well as ending the transport of vulnerable animals, among others.
“While we welcome efforts to improve the welfare of animals – including proposals for companion animals released today – the Commission has failed EU citizens by not delivering the comprehensive animal welfare reforms it promised.”
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Joanne Webster, a professor of parasitic diseases at the RVC, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
