Council Resolution of 19 June 2001 on the protection of animals during transport
Date: 2001-06-19
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: animal disease, animal welfare, protection of animals, transport of animals, veterinary legislation

28.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 273/1

I

(Information)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL RESOLUTION

of 19 June 2001

on the protection of animals during transport

(2001/C 273/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Whereas:

(cid:151) Declaration No 24 annexed to the Final Act of the Treaty
on European Union calls upon the European institutions
and the Member States, when drafting and implementing
Community legislation, in particular on the common agri-
cultural policy,
regard to the welfare
full
requirements of animals;

to pay

the

since

experience

95/29/EC amending Directive

(cid:151) the report from the Commission to the Council and the
acquired by
European Parliament on the
implementation of Council
Member States
Directive
91/628/EEC
concerning the protection of animals during transport has
the
brought deficiencies to light
provisions laid down by the aforementioned Directive,
particularly with regard to compliance with travelling
time limits and loading densities and the lack of care for,
and brutal mistreatment of, animals, mainly on long
journeys;

in the application of

(cid:151) the various animal health crises experienced by the Union
in recent years (in particular classical swine fever in the
Netherlands (1997/98) and more recently foot-and-mouth
disease) have been exacerbated by the large number of
movements of
live animals both within the Member
States affected by the epizootic diseases and between the
various Member States;

(cid:151) use of the staging points established by Council Directive
95/29/EC to allow animals to be transported over long
distances may involve a risk of spreading certain contagious
diseases (such as foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine
fever in particular);

(cid:151) the specialisation of livestock farms, the concentration and
intensification of animal production in certain regions of
the Member States and the rationalisation of slaughter-
houses and establishments for processing their products
have resulted in a significant increase in animal transport
both within the Member States and in trade between
Member States,

CONSIDERS THAT:

(cid:151) the Member States and the Commission should ensure the
effective implementation and strict enforcement of existing
legislation;

(cid:151) in the near future, new initiatives should be envisaged to
improve the protection and welfare of animals as well as
preventing the occurrence and spread of infectious animal
diseases;

(cid:151) for movements which remain essential,

to
safeguard the welfare and health of animals during and
after
transport, more stringent requirements should be
put in place, so as to prevent pain and suffering;

in order

INVITES the Commission to submit to the Council as rapidly as
possible:

(cid:151) suitable proposals for achieving these aims, in the light of
the experience built up by Member States in implementing
Directive 95/29/EC;

(cid:151) an animal health and welfare report on:

(a) issues arising from the transport of

live animals also
taking into account the public interest to prevent the
spread of infectious animal diseases;

(b) economic

consequences

generally or
proposed.

for

regions

for

the European Union
thereof of any changes