Defra consults on welfare of animals during transport

Latest Articles

Defra consults on welfare of animals during transport

Downsizer Forum Index -> Livestock and Pets

Author

Message

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Wed May 10, 06 8:11 am Post subject: Defra consults on welfare of animals during transport

NEWS RELEASE

Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960 Ref: 198/06
Date: 8 May 2006

Defra consults on new welfare of animals during transport rules

Consultation proposals for new national rules and procedures for the welfare of animals during transport are published today.

The new requirements will need to be in place by January 2007 to implement new EU rules.

They will affect those transporting all vertebrate animals in connection with an economic activity including hauliers and farmers transporting animals to market. They will not affect:

transport of animals not in connection with an economic activity e.g. taking a pet on holiday

journeys to or from a veterinary practice or clinic under veterinary instruction

farmers transporting their own animals in their vehicles under 50km

The new rules require among other things that:

From 5 January 2007 anyone transporting vertebrate animals over 65km must be specifically authorised
All vehicles used to transport animals over 8 hours must be inspected and approved against new standards and
From 5 January 2008, drivers and attendants on journeys over 65km must hold a certificate of competence if transporting horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or poultry
Stringent rules will apply to all commercial journeys in respect of:

Responsibilities of transporters and keepers and handling practices
Fitness to travel and journey limits for young animals
Transport of horses and
Journeys through markets
Those affected will also include anyone providing training and assessment of drivers, attendants and market staff in welfare in transport rules.

Ben Bradshaw, minister for animal health and welfare, welcomed the implementation of these new rules.

He said: �These new rules, which the UK supported, will enable us to protect the welfare of animals in transport better than we do now.

�While they do not address the key welfare issues of journey times and space allowances they are a welcome step forward. We look forward to the Commission's review of the new rules including journey times in 2011.

�Defra and devolved administrations will be working closely with stakeholder organisations to help farmers, transporters and others understand the changes and what they must do to comply.�
Notes to editors
1. The Regulation applies to the transport of vertebrates (which therefore includes non farmed animals (e.g. horses, dogs) and birds) for commercial purposes (�in connection with an economic activity�).

2. The EU Regulation can be viewed here https://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_003/l_00320050105en00010044.pdf (PDF on Europa website)

3. For further information click on www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/transport.htm.

4. A consultation document is available at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/animaltransport-eureg/index.htm or hard copies can be requested from:
Animal Welfare Division, Transport & Markets Team, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4PQ

Tel: 020 7904 6566 Fax: 020 7904 6961

e-mail: [email protected] (Deadline for comments by 31 July 2006).

5. Similar consultation arrangements are being held in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Further information is available on our Help page about downloading or reading Adobe Acrobat documents

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Sun May 14, 06 2:16 pm Post subject:
Well, that's probably the end of many agricultural and dog shows, then! Anna-marie

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sun May 14, 06 4:17 pm Post subject:
Do dog shows count as an economic activity?

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Sun May 14, 06 9:25 pm Post subject:
I don't know, Nick. I suppose it depends on whether or not you win, and pick up the 50p prize money

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 8:30 am Post subject:

Anna-marie wrote:

Well, that's probably the end of many agricultural and dog shows, then!

It could well be the end of some smallholders too - I'm not sure that either of my two preferred abattoirs are within that range.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 9:06 am Post subject:
You don't think, that if you're travelling for those distances with animals, you ought to be regulated to some degree, and authorised? Clearly, quite how they implement this matters, but this would appear to be good for animal welfare. That's not such a bad thing. Currently, the link is broken for me, so I can't see what they're expecting, but I wouldn't be too despondant.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 9:12 am Post subject:

nickhowe wrote:

You don't think, that if you're travelling for those distances with animals, you ought to be regulated to some degree, and authorised?

I'm not sure how me paying someone to do the same journey that I could make myself is going to improve animal welfare.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 9:15 am Post subject:
Why would you pay someone else? Why wouldn't you find out what the requirements are, agree to them and get authorised?

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 9:27 am Post subject:

nickhowe wrote:

Why wouldn't you find out what the requirements are, agree to them and get authorised?

If indeed it proves that straightforward, then I will. Sadly these things rarely are.

I also find the 65 km limit a bit odd. It would allow me to overpack a sheep trailer and move stock between fields without a care about their welfare, but not take two porkers on their last trip without being specifically authorised.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 9:39 am Post subject:

I'd guess the limit is based on an hour's travel, and the reasoning being most animals will put up with any (reasonable) conditions for an hour. After that, they'll need whatever the regulations require (rest, water, warmth for newly shorn sheep, checking, whatever).

This appears to be a consultation document, which means they are consulting, and theoretically at least, open to discussion and suggestions. You could write to them with your fears and offer suggestions?

Additionally, for myself, I'd argue that my pigs are not an economic activity, so aren't covered (I'm lucky, I travel about 15 miles).

Clearly, the rules are aimed at the large hauliers who tuck vast quantities of livestock around Europe for financial reasons. Just as clearly, it's very possibly going to affect you, if you take 2 pigs to slaughter 66km away. Perhaps there's a market there, for staging posts, so you can break your journey into sections less than 65km? Pig service stations, perhaps! (Billing them as agricultural shows would get round the 21 day rule, wouldn't it?)

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 9:47 am Post subject:

nickhowe wrote:

Additionally, for myself, I'd argue that my pigs are not an economic activity, so aren't covered (I'm lucky, I travel about 15 miles).

I like the cut of your argument!

Seriously, though, it is because of the animal welfare issue that I use the abattoir that I do. The only one that is within the 65 km limit for me, is a big factory abattoir that I wouldn't touch with a bargepole (a friend took some lambs there, and they were hanging around for 24 hours - he wasn't entirely convinced that they received any water during that period, certainly no food.)

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 10:01 am Post subject:

nickhowe wrote:

You don't think, that if you're travelling for those distances with animals, you ought to be regulated to some degree, and authorised?

...... but I wouldn't be too despondant.

Yes, Nick, definitely, but presumably the authorisation will cost the same for the large hauliers as it will for the likes of myself, who carries stock these distances very rarely.

This year, I intend only to take my goats to the Smallholder show, and perhaps one horse to a sale.

Next year, I just won't bother..........

Anna-marie

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 10:11 am Post subject:

The Smallholder show isn't an economic activity. It won't be covered. You'll be fine to pop them into your trailer and drive them yourself.

As for sales, it may be that you have to pay for transport (for your own certificate/whatever, or to hire a driver). Add that to the price of the horse at the sale? Or is there a closer sale? Or stop somewhere and break the journey into 65km sections?

Perhaps you could ride it there.

(catch the train back!)

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 10:22 am Post subject:

nickhowe wrote:

The Smallholder show isn't an economic activity. It won't be covered. You'll be fine to pop them into your trailer and drive them yourself.

No, Nick, but my meat goats are!!!

As for sales, it may be that you have to pay for transport (for your own certificate/whatever, or to hire a driver). Add that to the price of the horse at the sale?

Most sales are by "auction", so the cost would come out of any profit.

Or is there a closer sale?

No

Or stop somewhere and break the journey into 65km sections?

But the total distance remains the same

Perhaps you could ride it there.

(catch the train back!)

He's only two, and not yet broken in!

Anna-marie[/b][/i]

Anna-marie

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 10:23 am Post subject:
Sorry - I don't know how to separate the quote from my reply!

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Livestock and Pets	All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

View Latest Posts