RSPCA's UK dossier
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COMPLAINTS about British livestock hauliers have led to the EEC Commission examining British laws dealing with the transport of animals.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has complained to Brussels saying that animals arc often not properly watered and fed, as laid down in the directives of 1977 and 1981 — and that drivers ignore tachograph rules on the time spent at the wheel.
A bulky dossier compiled by RSPCA inspectors who trailed lorries loaded with livestock — particularly calves going to France — was handed to the EEC authorities earlier this year.
And Britain, one of the prime movers pressing for tougher EEC laws on animal transport, is now under investigation for not complying with the directives which resulted from this campaign.
Brussels has not yet started the infringement procedure which preceeds a prosecution for non-compliance at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
But the impression in Brussels is that Britain is guilty only of a technical offence which probably can be settled without a legal battle.
For example, EEC regulations lay down that vehicles carrying aniamals on long journeys must have a root-, whereas exemptions are allowed in Britain.
"The trouble is there are seven or eight different laws in Britain, some dating back to 1919 or even further," an EEC official told CM. "We require more time to study the complex legal situation before deciding on our response," he added. The complaint about drivers breaking the tachograph rules has also been raised with British Government. But this is not a matter for the European Court.
British MEP David Morris plans to raise the RSPCA case at the European Parliament after receiving complaints from his constituents in Mid and West Wales.
• The International Road Transport Union has asked drivers travelling between Britain and the Continent, not to legally smuggle animals into Britain because of the fear of rabies. It is an offence to import any animal without an import licence and there are severe penalities, the FRU says. In May, a Dutch 'FIR driver smuggled his dog into Britain through Dover. Two days later he was arrested and fined