Report calls for eight-hour limit to livestock transport
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FRESH CALLS have been made to introduce an eight-hour limit to livestock journeys after it emerged that the transport of live animals has increased since regulations were introduced to limit long journeys in 2007.
A report has shown that between 2005-09 the inter-EU transport of cattle rose by 8%; pigs by 70% and sheep by 3%. Only horses decreased, by 17%. The report by the European Commission was needed by the regulation No1/2005 to show whether ‘transport of animals over long journeys’ had been ‘limited to the greatest extent possible’ in the four years since its introduction.
Rapporteur (sponsor) of the report MEP Janusz Wojciechowski of the Agriculture Committee says: “The petition signed by one million EU citizens calling for the maximum transport time for animals destined for slaughter to be restricted to eight hours should be considered.” He adds that the costs livestock hauliers have borne by upgrading their vehicles; providing insulated roofs; animal watering devices and satellite navigation systems should be recognised.
Spanish MEP Luis de Grandes Pascual, leading on the report for the Transport Committee, does not believe the limit is practical. “You can’t cross Spain in eight hours,” says a spokeswoman.