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Brussels acts over livestock

17th July 1997, Page 8
17th July 1997
Page 8
Page 8, 17th July 1997 — Brussels acts over livestock
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by David Craik • Livestock hauliers are seeking urgent clarification on the amount of financial pain they can expect following the latest Brussels directive on animal welfare.

Operators could be forced to fold if European Commission proposals on the transport of livestock become law, warns Eddie Harper, livestock chairman of the Road Haulage Association. He fears that proposals designed to establish technical requirements for new vehicles transporting livestock for more than eight hours could affect existing vehicles.

The Commission's proposals are part of the Welfare of Animals Transport Order.

Suggestions for technical alterations include the protection of livestock by a weatherproof and insulated roof, suit able ventilation devices and effective light sources. Harper says that if the proposals become law a derogation for existing vehicles should be brought in at the same time.

"The Commission should state that, for example, all vehicles built after 2010 should have the construction changes," he says. "If there is no derogation there could be a disaster in terms of the number of businesses which could collapse."

Harper also will lobby the Commission to do more research into the proposed changes, especially into the issue of air exchange.

"Ventilation will provide a problem for the creation of one European standard vehicle, simply because the heat affects countries in varying ways," he says.


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