New animal transport test is now compulsory

If you transport livestock, regardless of how frequently and for how many years you have been doing it previously, you must now past a test to prove your competence. Like it or not, the long-threatened legislation is now is place across the EU and will be fully enforced in the UK from the end of April. Simon Wragg looks at who will be affected and what it takes to comply with the law.

UP TO 90 per cent of people transporting animals by road could already be in breach of new EU rules that came into force on January 5 this year.

Council Regulation (EC) no. 1/2005 sets out new requirements for the welfare of animals during transport and related operations.

And while Defra has signalled enforcement will be moderate until April 30 – in acknowledgement of the difficulty recent disease outbreaks such as foot-and-mouth and bluetongue have caused the farming sector – many moving stock may already be in breach of the rules.

While much of the detail affects anyone moving animals in conjunction with an economic activity – whether business or pleasure and including farm livestock, poultry, working dogs, domesticated animals and horses – it will hit those embarking on a return journey of 65km (approximately 40 miles) or more hardest.