2023-12-07 10:00:58
Shorter transport times, especially restrictions on ship transport, are necessary
Vienna/Brussels (OTS) – Today the EU Commission finally presented a proposal for a new EU animal transport law. The proposal provides for shorter maximum transport times, more space for animals during transport and a ban on transporting calves under five weeks of age. There will continue to be no maximum transport times for transport by ship and there will hardly be any restrictions on exports to third countries.
“Every improvement means less animal suffering on Europe’s roads. Shorter transport times are essential for this. We would have liked to have had more ambition, especially when it came to maximum transport times for ship transport, exports to third countries and the far too long transition periods,” emphasizes Health and Animal Welfare Minister Johannes Rauch.
As early as 2022, the Animal Transport U Committee in the European Parliament identified deficiencies in the current legislation and its implementation and presented suggestions for improvements. This has now been partially fulfilled.
Thomas Waitz, Green MEP and shadow rapporteur for the Greens in the Animal Transport U Committee welcomes the Commission’s draft: “Today the Commission has finally acted. The proposal is the result of years of investigative work and pressure from citizens, animal protection NGOs and the Greens. In 2021, we saw the animal suffering caused by ship transport that takes far too long, when the ships Karim Allah and Elbeik endured a months-long odyssey in the Mediterranean. The fact that ship transport times remain unrestricted leaves a bitter followingtaste.”
“With the animal protection package of 2022 and as part of those member states that are committed to more animal protection (Vught Group), Austria recently showed how stricter rules can be applied when it comes to animal transport. It is now important to bring regarding improvements at the European level in the coming negotiations in the Council and the European Parliament,” said EU MP Thomas Waitz and Health and Animal Welfare Minister Johannes Rauch.
Questions & Contact:
Inge Chen
Press spokesperson Thomas Waitz
+32484912134
inge.chen@europarl.europa.eu
1701943312
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