WRITTEN QUESTION E-1174/98

by Ulf Holm (V) to the Council

(23 April 1998)

Subject: Transport of animals

EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in December 1997 reportedly agreed on a compromise over detailed rules for long-distance transport of animals. It has proved difficult, however, to ascertain the precise implications of the new rules. Nevertheless, the media have reported that the new detailed rules are too lax and will not improve the situation of the animals, particularly in regard to ventilation.

Can the Council clarify the new rules and say in what way they will make the transport of animals less cruel and barbaric?

Reply

(24 September 1998)

Following the political agreement reached by the Agriculture Council at its meeting in December 1997, the Council formally adopted, on 16 February 1998, Regulation (EC) 411/98(1) on additional animal protection standards applicable to road vehicles used for the carriage of livestock on journeys exceeding eight hours.

That Regulation, which was drawn up on the basis of scientific advice, lays down additional standards to those already applied under Directives 91/628/EEC(2) and 95/29/EEC(3) in order to bring about a notable improvement in the conditions for the carriage of livestock. Those standards concern access to the vehicle, the separation of animals by means of moveable partitions, water supply, ventilation, transport of sufficient feed and adequate bedding.

More specifically, as regards ventilation, the Regulation lays down that the vehicle must be equipped with an adequate ventilation system to ensure that the welfare of the animals being transported is permanently guaranteed, taking into account in particular the following criteria:

- the planned journey and its duration,

- the design of the vehicle used (open or closed),

- the inside temperature and the outside temperature resulting from atmospheric conditions which may occur during the planned journey,

- the specific physiological needs of the various species transported,

- the loading densities provided for in Chapter VI of the Annex to Directive 91/628/EEC and the space available above the animals.

The system must also be designed in such a way that:

- it can be used at any time when the animals are in the vehicle whether it is stationary or moving,

- it ensures the efficient circulation of unpolluted air.

To that end, operators must provide:

- either a forced ventilation system, the details of which are to be determined by the Commission after consultation of the Scientific Veterinary Committee in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Directive 91/628/EEC,

- or a ventilation system which ensures that a range of temperatures from 5o C to 30o C can be maintained within the vehicle for all animals, with a + 5o C tolerance depending on the outside temperature. This system must also be equipped with an appropriate monitoring device.

Looking at all these provisions, it appears that the legislator's decisions took into account the scientific and technical data available at the time and the different situations which might occur throughout Community territory, while always keeping the protection and welfare of animals as the main objective.

Moreover, in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) 411/98, the Council reserved the right to review these requirements, and in particular the application of the different ventilation systems, on the basis of a report drawn up by the Commission following the opinion of the Scientific Veterinary Committee and accompanied by any appropriate proposals.

(1) OJ L 52, 21.2.1998, p. 8.

(2) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.

(3) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.