Document type : Written answer from the European Commission
Authors: Question: Harald Vilimsky (ID). Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission
Question: New Zealand, a pioneer in animal transport
Following several incidents and accidents involving animal transport by ship, New Zealand has decided to ban this form of animal transport entirely.
The fact that there is also a lot wrong with animal transport by ship in Europe was highlighted by the situation, or rather the odyssey, of almost 2600 cattle on board the 'Karim Allah' and the 'Elbeik' criss-crossing the Mediterranean Sea for months. The ships departed for Tripoli (Libya) from a Spanish port on 18 December 2020 but were not permitted entry to the destination port, as the cattle were infected with bluetongue virus. After an odyssey of many months in the Mediterranean, during which some of the cattle died on board the ships as a result of disease, inadequate care and hygiene, the remaining animals had to be slaughtered.
- Should the Commission not follow New Zealand’s example and immediately ban this form of animal transport?
- Why were both ships allowed to leave the port, despite clearly not having an emergency plan in line with the EU regulations?
- If animal transport by ship is not prohibited altogether, is it not time to at least amend the Regulation so that animals’ journey time on ships is no longer considered as a rest period, but as actual journey time?
Answer: 1. & 3. In the context of the Farm to Fork Strategy[1], the Commission intends to revise the animal welfare legislation, including on animal transport, to align it with the latest scientific evidence, broaden its scope, make it easier to enforce and ultimately ensure a higher level of animal welfare. Against this background, the Commission has mandated the European Food Safety Authority to provide scientific opinions, notably one on animal transport. The request on animal transport includes a specific question on transport by livestock vessels. In light of this scientific opinion, as well as the experience gained during the implementation of the legislation, the Commission will consider the most appropriate measures for the future.
- The Commission has received information from the Spanish authorities on the two incidents and is now analysing them. In particular, the Commission services will examine if the Spanish authorities had performed all the necessary checks to verify that the EU requirements for journeys to third countries were respected.
