Commissioner Byrne's proposals for new EU animal transport rules are welcome, but have a long way to go, writes Patricia McKenna.
Commissioner David Byrne is to be admired for his efforts to resolve the issue of animal transport. This is not an easy task because there are strong opposing opinions: farm lobby groups want the trade to continue without undue extra costs, whereas animal welfare groups and many European consumers want to see an end to all long journeys for animals destined for slaughter or further fattening.
Commissioner Byrne's proposals for new EU animal transport rules contain some very positive welfare improvements; for example, a requirement for training certification of drivers of livestock vehicles; inspection and approval of vehicles used for long journeys; and stricter enforcement procedures.
However, it is disappointing that the proposals fail to address the core problem, i.e. the sheer length of the journeys. Current rules allow adult cattle and sheep to travel by road for 28 hours, with a one-hour break on the truck, followed by a rest period of 24 hours. The proposed new rules lay down a sequence of nine hours travel followed by 12 hours rest. Whilst shorter travel times are welcome, the problem is that the current rules and proposed new rules both allow the cycle of travel and rest to be repeated indefinitely, thereby permitting extremely long journeys across Europe and beyond.
Each year, over 2 million live animals are transported on these very long journeys which cover thousands of kilometres. Regular long-haul routes include sheep transported from the UK to Spain, Italy, and Greece; horses travelling from Poland, Belarus and Lithuania to slaughterhouses in Italy; and cattle transported from Ireland, Germany and France to the Middle East.
It is extensively documented and widely accepted that long journeys cause considerable suffering to animals. Problems on vehicles often stem from a combination of hot weather, inadequate ventilation, overcrowding and lack of water. This can result in animals becoming increasingly exhausted, dehydrated and stressed. Some get injured or fall onto the truck floor and are trampled by their companions. In the worst cases, many die.
Long distance transport also acts as a conduit for disease. Lairages (where animals are unloaded to rest) facilitate disease spread between consignments of animals, which then carry the disease to their destinations. Irish calves introduced foot-and-mouth disease to Holland after picking it up from UK sheep at a French lairage.
Problems are exacerbated by lack of enforcement of existing rules.What is needed is total reform whereby journeys are limited to a maximum of eight hours for animals travelling for either slaughter or further fattening (as both categories of animals face similar problems during transport). This would mean that after eight hours the animals must be at the slaughterhouse or the fattening farm. In this way, the whole of Europe would shift to a trade in meat. For Ireland, this would have the advantage of adding value to exports and creating jobs in the meat industry. Also, slaughter standards could be controlled.
The concept of an eight-hour overall journey limit already has support in Europe. In 2001, the European Parliament voted for an eight-hour or 500 km overall journey limit for animals travelling to slaughter or further fattening. Support came from the major groupings of the European Parliament as well as the Green Party.
At a discussion of the EU Agriculture Council in 2002, nine of the 15 member-states supported an eight-hour journey limit. Ireland joined with southern European member- states in opposing such reform, which is remarkable when one considers that Ireland prides itself on its high animal welfare and health standards.
A maximum journey limit would also remove the necessity for animals to remain on board vehicles for the duration of the journey. This proposal by Commissioner Byrne - designed to address the disease problem at lairages and to overcome the risk of injuries to animals when being loaded and unloaded - has proved unpopular with all sides.
Mr Byrne's proposals are welcome, but do not go far enough.
Patricia McKenna is Green MEP for Dublin