The living animal transport industry in the EU is plagued by problems. The sector Not only does it harm the wells of countless animals, but tragedies are frequent. The ships are kept on the borders for days and abandon animals without food or water.
Animals are unattended by employees, so they suffer injury, exposure to extreme temperatures and other problems. The Sea voyages are made in a dangerous way Ships that do not even meet the most basic standards animal welfare.
They have been to Eurogroup for Animals Fighting for a change The EU finally responds in this problematic industry. The political leaders of the EU have been working in since December 2023 He Transport instructionsThe legislation that influences the well processing of all transported animals. Unfortunately, however, Your first proposal to update these laws is not powerful enough” Neither the Later changes.
As the file progresses in the legislative process, Ash Fundamental adjustment to these proposals To ensure that they sufficiently meet the welfare needs of animals currently suffering in this sector. Ideally also the political leaders of the EU will focus on alternatives to the transport of living animalsSo that no animal is forced to withstand difficult and long journeys that are innate.
What really happens to animal transport?
The data has been extracted from the technical report of 2024, “Transport of living animals: it’s time to change the rules.”
In 2022:
- 1,562,618,904 were transported alive Sheep, cattle, poultry and pigs through the EU and from the EU to non -European countries;
- Corral Birds represented 97 % of the total export of living animals making them the most commercialized species. The most important poultry exportors of the EU were Hungary, Czech and Poland.
In addition, in 2019:
- The export of 57,523 tons of living fish from the EU, of which 93% intended for other Member States;
- 87,817 horses, donkeys, mules and brothel They were transported alive by the EU and the rest of the world.
Main problems of the living animal transport sector in the EU
What kind of changes are still needed in the EU transport regulations? Animals are currently undergoing a lot of unnecessary suffering during transport due to important omissions in current legislation. These considerations are not treated sufficiently in the proposal of political leaders to update these laws:
- Insufficient restrictions in travel timesWhich means that traveling can last for days in a row (Although the transport proposal tries to tackle this to a certain extent, it does not include sea transport within travel time limit, which means that in theory in theory or even months could be at sea according to this proposal);
- Allow the transport of animals “not suitable”Including animals in advanced pregnancy or injured, as well as babies;
- It continues to allow the exports of animals to third countries where animals are not protected by EU’s animal welfare laws;
It does not bring sufficient and specific PUTBEVERING conditions for each type of transported animalsWhich means that the individual needs of the different types of transported animals are not met, such as farm birds, rabbits, cows, sheep and pigs.
Transport of living animals = tragedies
Over the years they have registered Different tragedies in the “status” of the animal transport industry ‘. In 2024, 69 Pregnant heifers suffered a terrible death After more than four weeks of being stranded on the border between Bulgaria and Türkiye. That same year, Several bulls were held in a port of Morocco for 19 days Because of bureaucratic procedures, where they suffered terribly.
In 2020 ship the Gulf Livestock 1 -ship of fell against the coasts of Japan When traveling to China, about 6,000 animals take. In 2019, More than 14,000 sheep died In the Black Sea after the shipwreck of a ship that went to Saudi Aarabia.
In 2024 the basis for the Animal welfare reported that Animals were dragged to the beaches After he has been thrown off board of transport shipsWhile Essere Animioi documented that several hundred pigs temperatures members of almost 50 degrees Celsius in transport cars while they were abandoned by the workers.
Vulnerable animals are also transported, even though they are not in circumstances for long journeys. Last year, various NGOs They signed open letters to the European Commission and Stena Line Ferries demand that they stop transporting non -clothing calves from Ireland to France.
Loose Animals did not receive food during this long journey, which means that these journeys infringe EU legislation. In the same way, Thousands of pregnant dairy cows are sent from Ireland to AlgeriaWith serious risks both during the trip and upon arrival.
The lack of good -bijka standards and their application on the trade in living animals that transport transport actively damages countless syndicating creatures. And it’s time to act for this Situation changes for once and for all and animal abuse is over in this sector.
Changes that must be made in the sector
Improving animal good in the living transport sector of animals is a democratic care. Citizens of the entire EU They demanded strict transport legislation In the eurarometer of 2023. In particular, 83 % of the respondents said that they think that travel time should be limited to transporting living animals within or outside the EU (for commercial purposes).
Similarly, the results of a public consultation on the transport of living animals, published in September 2024, show an overwhelming support of citizenship to a stricter regulation for animal welfare during transport In the EUWith regard to the protection of vulnerable animals, the improvement of the general portial proofs of all animals, the ban on certain types of transport, etc.
These public opinions have the permanent support of official agencies. In 2022, the European food security authority He published his recommendations To improve animal welfare During the transport of living animals, including including Shorter travel times and more space for the relocation of animals.
In 2023, the European Court of Accounts He also published a report on the transport of living animalsconclude that structural changes are needed in the sector and more attention to the provisions on animal welfare.
Within the Recommendations for change in the live transport sector Request the Eurogroup Maximum specific travel times for each type y Prohibited in the transport of certain vulnerable animals, Including calves and piglets less than eight weeks, sheep and goats less than six weeks and pregnant animals that have exceeded 40% of their pregnancy period.
They also demand Total prohibition of the export of living animals to third countriesWhere they cannot be protected by EU legislation. It is encouraging that different countries have already been advanced in this area, such as Nieuw -Zeeland and Luxembourg, that They prohibit the export from living animals to third countries For sacrifice in 2022.
More recently, in 2024, the United Kingdom also chose to ban the export of living animals, Which means that farm animals can no longer export for sacrifice or fat. Since the well confirmation of exported animals outside the Member States cannot be guaranteed, The total prohibition on this type of transport is the only feasible measure.
EU’s chance to bet on animal welfare is now
The Live animal transport industry influences the fate of many sensory beings and exerts enormous power over their wells. Only fat-printed and functional changes that arise from the transport regulation can really contribute to protecting them in this sector, or better, a transition to the meat and channel trade, which would mean that no living animal would be subject to this trade.
This ambitious measure would revolutionize the transport sector in terms of goodAnd there is A solid economic justification So that the political leaders of the EU consider this change. Following the steps of other countries that started in this direction, such as the United Kingdom, the EU political leaders must take this opportunity to demonstrate a real dedication to animals, go beyond what is strictly necessary for their wells and the adoption of alternative systems that replace the problematic transport of living animals.