The Eurogroup for Animals, a Brussels-based Animal Welfare organisation, has published its Guidelines to assess fitness for transport of adult bovine animals in association with a number of other welfare and farm animal groups, including UECBV (European Union of Meat Traders), FVE (Federation of Veterinarians of Europe) and ELT (European Livestock Transporters). The guidelines are relevant to farmers, traders, hauliers and control authorities.

 image expired

Eurogroup for Animals said upon releasing its guidelines, “Improving the welfare of animals during their transport is in everyone’s interest. Transporting animals that are unfit not only causes animal suffering but could also lead to penalties, financial losses and the withdrawal of the authorisation of the transporter and/or the driver as well.”

The guidelines are based on European legislation and do not take account of laws particular to member states. They do provide a list of situations that may occur and conditions which may render an animal unfit for transport to help maximise animal welfare and, consequently, returns for the farmer.

The Guidelines are currently available in English, German, Spanish and French. Eurogroup for Animals said Italian and Portuguese versions will be by February and other language versions are currently being considered. The guidelines are available from any of the organisations which participated in their production.

In 2011, the number of calf and sheep exports from Britain to the continent increased three-fold to more than 80,000. Earlier in the month, Joanna Lumley and welfare group Compassion in World Farming launched a campaign to limit transport times for live animals to eight hours. A series of adverts publicising the campaign will be appearing on busses around the UK.  

Tweet