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Behemoth
Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 19023 Location: Leeds
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Posted: Wed May 10, 06 8:11 am Post subject: Defra consults on welfare of animals during transport |
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NEWS RELEASE
Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960 Ref: 198/06
Date: 8 May 2006
Defra consults on new welfare of animals during transport rules
Consultation proposals for new national rules and procedures for the welfare of animals during transport are published today.
The new requirements will need to be in place by January 2007 to implement new EU rules.
They will affect those transporting all vertebrate animals in connection with an economic activity including hauliers and farmers transporting animals to market. They will not affect:
transport of animals not in connection with an economic activity e.g. taking a pet on holiday
journeys to or from a veterinary practice or clinic under veterinary instruction
farmers transporting their own animals in their vehicles under 50km
The new rules require among other things that:
From 5 January 2007 anyone transporting vertebrate animals over 65km must be specifically authorised
All vehicles used to transport animals over 8 hours must be inspected and approved against new standards and
From 5 January 2008, drivers and attendants on journeys over 65km must hold a certificate of competence if transporting horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or poultry
Stringent rules will apply to all commercial journeys in respect of:
Responsibilities of transporters and keepers and handling practices
Fitness to travel and journey limits for young animals
Transport of horses and
Journeys through markets
Those affected will also include anyone providing training and assessment of drivers, attendants and market staff in welfare in transport rules.
Ben Bradshaw, minister for animal health and welfare, welcomed the implementation of these new rules.
He said: �These new rules, which the UK supported, will enable us to protect the welfare of animals in transport better than we do now.
�While they do not address the key welfare issues of journey times and space allowances they are a welcome step forward. We look forward to the Commission's review of the new rules including journey times in 2011.
�Defra and devolved administrations will be working closely with stakeholder organisations to help farmers, transporters and others understand the changes and what they must do to comply.�
Notes to editors
1. The Regulation applies to the transport of vertebrates (which therefore includes non farmed animals (e.g. horses, dogs) and birds) for commercial purposes (�in connection with an economic activity�).
2. The EU Regulation can be viewed here https://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_003/l_00320050105en00010044.pdf (PDF on Europa website)
3. For further information click on www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/transport.htm.
4. A consultation document is available at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/animaltransport-eureg/index.htm or hard copies can be requested from:
Animal Welfare Division, Transport & Markets Team, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ
Tel: 020 7904 6566 Fax: 020 7904 6961
e-mail: aw-transport@defra.gsi.gov.uk (Deadline for comments by 31 July 2006).
5. Similar consultation arrangements are being held in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Further information is available on our Help page about downloading or reading Adobe Acrobat documents |
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Anna-marie
Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 980 Location: West Wales
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Nick
Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 34535 Location: Hereford
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Anna-marie
Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 980 Location: West Wales
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judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
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Nick
Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 34535 Location: Hereford
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judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
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Nick
Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 34535 Location: Hereford
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judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
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Nick
Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 34535 Location: Hereford
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Posted: Mon May 15, 06 9:39 am Post subject: |
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I'd guess the limit is based on an hour's travel, and the reasoning being most animals will put up with any (reasonable) conditions for an hour. After that, they'll need whatever the regulations require (rest, water, warmth for newly shorn sheep, checking, whatever).
This appears to be a consultation document, which means they are consulting, and theoretically at least, open to discussion and suggestions. You could write to them with your fears and offer suggestions?
Additionally, for myself, I'd argue that my pigs are not an economic activity, so aren't covered (I'm lucky, I travel about 15 miles).
Clearly, the rules are aimed at the large hauliers who tuck vast quantities of livestock around Europe for financial reasons. Just as clearly, it's very possibly going to affect you, if you take 2 pigs to slaughter 66km away. Perhaps there's a market there, for staging posts, so you can break your journey into sections less than 65km? Pig service stations, perhaps! (Billing them as agricultural shows would get round the 21 day rule, wouldn't it?) |
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judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
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Posted: Mon May 15, 06 9:47 am Post subject: |
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nickhowe wrote: |
Additionally, for myself, I'd argue that my pigs are not an economic activity, so aren't covered (I'm lucky, I travel about 15 miles). |
I like the cut of your argument!
Seriously, though, it is because of the animal welfare issue that I use the abattoir that I do. The only one that is within the 65 km limit for me, is a big factory abattoir that I wouldn't touch with a bargepole (a friend took some lambs there, and they were hanging around for 24 hours - he wasn't entirely convinced that they received any water during that period, certainly no food.) |
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Anna-marie
Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 980 Location: West Wales
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Posted: Mon May 15, 06 10:01 am Post subject: |
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nickhowe wrote: |
You don't think, that if you're travelling for those distances with animals, you ought to be regulated to some degree, and authorised?
...... but I wouldn't be too despondant. |
Yes, Nick, definitely, but presumably the authorisation will cost the same for the large hauliers as it will for the likes of myself, who carries stock these distances very rarely.
This year, I intend only to take my goats to the Smallholder show, and perhaps one horse to a sale.
Next year, I just won't bother..........
Anna-marie |
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Nick
Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 34535 Location: Hereford
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Anna-marie
Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 980 Location: West Wales
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Anna-marie
Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 980 Location: West Wales
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