Proposals for transport of animals announced

The European Commission announced today proposals to improve the current welfare in transport rules.

Animal Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said "These proposals are long overdue and are good news for animal welfare. The UK is an enthusiastic supporter of stronger controls on the conditions under which animals are transported and these proposals will be an important step forward. Ideally we would prefer all exports to be in the form of meat rather than live animals but strengthening rules on journey times and the standard of vehicles would represent valuable progress"

The main proposals for change are: -

- new maximum journey times and space allowances

- stricter controls on the registration of transporters

- clearer responsibilities and mandatory training for those dealing

with the animals during a journey

- better definitions of fitness to travel

- new controls on the transport of very young animals

- stricter controls on horse transport

- inspection and approval of road vehicles used for longer journeys

and stricter standards for these vehicles

- inspection and approval of livestock vessels

- improved procedures for co-operation between member states

Defra will be consulting interested parties fully on these proposals and their effect on transport in the UK and intra-community transport.

Copies of the proposal will be available from:-

John Conway

Area 507

1A Page Street

London

SW1P 4PQ

Tel. 020 7904 6581 e-mail John.Conway@defra.gsi.gov.uk