Document type : Press release from the Académie vétérinaire de France
Author: Académie vétérinaire de France
Preview: The export by sea from Europe of live cattle and sheep for immediate or subsequent slaughter in countries around the Mediterranean has recently given rise to multiple incidents. For example, in November 2019, 14,400 sheep exported from Romania to Saudi Arabia died when the ship transporting them sank. In February 2021, a journey lasting nearly three months of two Spanish ships loaded with 3,000 cattle, turned away by Turkey and then by all the ports around the Mediterranean, ended with the slaughter of the surviving animals after they returned to their port of departure. Last, the lives of 130,000 sheep from Romania carried on 11 cargo ships were placed at serious risk by the blocking of the Suez Canal in March. These incidents have highlighted the growing number of such exports of live cattle and sheep from Europe to Mediterranean countries, which totalled 1.7 million animals in 2019, of which 1,44,400 were sent to France. The rules for the protection of animals during transport and related operations are laid down in detail by Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004. In addition, scientific knowledge on the protection of animals during transport have made considerable advances, leading to the Opinion published in 2011 by EFSA, the European Food Safety Agency. However, several recent reports from the European Court of Auditors, the European Commission and the Federation of European Veterinarians (FVE) highlight numerous shortcomings in compliance with minimum standards and in monitoring by the competent authorities of the Member States. These shortcomings concern in particular a lack of training in the approval of vessels, insufficient consideration of the cumulative total number of journeys by road and sea from the farm to the final destination, the absence of a person legally responsible for the welfare of animals at sea and the lack of traceability and health monitoring during the journey. Faced with this worrying situation, the Académie Vétérinaire de France has convened a working group to draw up an Opinion based on a full report on the situation. Pending this opinion, it draws the attention of maritime animal transport professionals and the Member States' inspection authorities to the often precarious living conditions of live cattle and sheep transported by sea. It recommends that the current regulations be better respected and monitored, whether in terms of issuing authorisations to livestock vessels, compliance with good practice by professionals or the strengthening and harmonisation between Member States of the checks carried out by the authorities when vessels are loaded. In the event of a dispute between an exporting and importing country leading to the refusal to accept a shipment, the Académie Vétérinaire de France reminds those involved that the mediation procedure carried out by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) must be called upon without delay, so that the extension of travel time does not endanger the lives of the animals.
