The European Parliamentary Inquiry Committee into livestock transport has delivered a scathing judgment on the way animals are transported by EU countries. The ANIT committee also criticizes the years of inadequate oversight by EU countries of such livestock transports.
In many cases, animals received insufficient food and water, were exposed to extreme temperatures, and were sometimes placed in overcrowded cargo spaces
The parliamentary inquiry committee interviewed dozens of European agencies and officials, as well as national authorities, animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, transporters, and farmers. Additionally, locations where animals are exported were visited.
The inquiry committee finds that animals are especially placed in distressing situations during transports to countries outside the EU. ‘The EU does not fulfill its duty to ensure animal welfare throughout the entire transport from departure to the destination,’ the investigative committee concludes.
Ship transports are problematic: ‘the majority of the 80 ships holding a European license for animal transport are very old and pose a risk to the welfare of both people and animals on board,’ states the investigative report.
“This investigation confirms that rules are systematically violated. Animals are transported over long distances throughout Europe – and far beyond European borders – seriously jeopardizing their welfare. The misconception that these are merely accidents and incidents has been definitively disproven,” says Dutch Member of the European Parliament Anja Hazekamp (Party for the Animals). She is one of the co-authors of the report.
In addition to discussing the findings of its investigation, the ANIT inquiry committee also voted on Thursday on a series of recommendations to reduce animal suffering during transport. Animals younger than five weeks, such as calves and kids, must no longer be transported. According to the inquiry committee, old animals should no longer be subjected to long transports.
To prevent animals from being exposed to extreme temperatures, the committee recommends lowering the permissible maximum temperature from 35 to 30 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, a blacklist should be created of transporters who frequently violate regulations. The licenses of these 'offending' transporters must be revoked.
The inquiry committee’s recommendations will be finalized in January during the plenary session of the European Parliament. The European Commission is currently preparing an amendment to the EU legislation for the protection of animals during transport.
The European Commission will present a proposal for this in 2023. The recommendations from the investigative committee will be included in the legislative amendment. Additionally, a public consultation is currently ongoing, allowing companies and citizens to share their opinions on European animal welfare regulations.