Document type : Answer from the European Commission
Authors: Question: Peter Lundgren (ECR). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission.
Adult stallions, bulls, bucks, rams and boars must be transported separately from female animals in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1/2005. This is not always the best solution, however. Experience gained by animal transport experts shows that in some situations is it is better for both the animals and those looking after them if the animals are transported together. One example of this would be when transporting a group of animals where the breeding male was kept with the females on the farm. Manually separating these animals is extremely risky in terms of occupational safety, whether it is carried out by staff on the farm or the driver of the transport vehicle. For the animals, too, it is a stressful process. It is not a solution to make the supplier responsible for separating the animals. The risks in terms of occupational safety are extremely high. The rules should state that adult male and female animals should not be transported in the same pen unless they are used to each other and aggression levels are low.
What does the Commission think about amending the regulation so that it is not permitted to transport adult male and female animals in the same pen unless they are used to each other and aggression levels are low?
Annex I, Chapter III, point 1.12 (d) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1 /2005 on the protection of animals during transport contains specific rules on the separation during transport of sexually mature males and females.
These rules are laid down for animal welfare reasons, including avoiding unnecessary stress and possible injury to the animals in such a closed environment, should a sexually mature male attempt to copulate with a female that is not willing to accept him.
Under the EU Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F), the Commission will revise the EU animal welfare legislation by 2023. This includes Regulation (EC) No 1 /2005.
Prior to the revision, a fitness check of current rules will be performed to assess whether the legislation remains fit for purpose and effective and meets the animal welfare needs and citizens’ expectations, including the sustainability objectives of the F2F.
he coherence between the EU animal welfare legislation and other EU rules on health and safety will be considered in that exercise.
Furthermore, to ensure that the new legislation is based on the best available scientific knowledge, the Commission has requested the European Food Safety Authority to provide a new scientific opinion on the welfare of animals during transport.
