Eight EU countries try to block restriction on livestock transport

The eight countries (Portugal, France, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Spain) together make up about 37% of the EU population. According to EU voting rules, new laws require a majority of countries representing more than 65% of the population.

EU countries have long been divided over the export of live animals. Germany, currently a major exporter, has therefore decided on its own to limit animal transports to non-EU countries by withdrawing veterinary certificates as of July 1, 2023. Other countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, and Denmark want an EU-wide ban. Sweden is the EU president for this half-year period. 

LNV Minister Piet Adema says in a letter to Parliament that the Netherlands is in favor of ending long-distance transport of live animals. Next week, he will again advocate in an LNV ministers meeting for a shift toward more (slaughtered) meat transport instead of (live) livestock transport.

The eight EU countries say they do believe the animal welfare law should be modernized, but they believe livestock trade must not be restricted. For example, they want to maintain the massive sheep export during the Ramadan period to the Middle East.

Any revision must take into account "the need to ensure the economic competitiveness of agricultural businesses in the EU" and must not aim to prohibit or restrict certain types of transport, according to their protest note. An EU ban would force importing countries to buy from more distant suppliers.

Last January, the European Parliament voted to limit livestock transports but did not agree to a ban. It did vote in favor of installing CCTV cameras on livestock vehicles. The ministers disagree with that again.