Upcoming regulations governing the transport of animals will not cover agricultural shows and certain equestrian events, it emerged today.
The Department of Agriculture considers that the transport of animals to these events does not constitute an economic activity and therefore does not fall under EU regulations which are due to come into force in 2007.
The Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan today published a consultation paper on the EU council regulation for the protection of animals during transport and related operations.
The paper, which has been sent to various interested parties including farming groups and livestock transporters, is intended to precipitate a consultation period prior to the drawing up of the new rules.
The EU council regulation stipulates that all transporters of animals -including farmers transporting their own animals - must comply with general conditions concerning animal welfare, mode of transport and loading and unloading facilities.
The regulation also insists that people who transport animals on long journeys must use vehicles that have been inspected and approved by the relevant authorities.
Operators of assembly centres must ensure that animals are treated in accordance with the technical rules of the regulation and that personnel employed by them must have received training on these rules.
But the Department said that at this stage "agricultural shows and gymkhanas" do not constitute an economic activity and "should be excluded from the obligations of the new Regulation".
Ms Coughlan said today that the welfare of animals being transported is paramount. She invited interested parties to submit views to her Department on the new rules.