Document type: Answer to Question E-003635/2023 from the European Commission
Authors: question: Annika Bruna (ID). Answer: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission
Answer in French (translation): The Commission adopted on December 7, 2023 a legislative proposal on the protection of animals during transport [1]. The proposal limits the transport of terrestrial animals for slaughter to nine hours, except for poultry and rabbits where the transport for slaughter is limited to 12 hours.
Compliance with food hygiene and notably maintenance of the cold chain is a prerequisite for any food business operator who wants to place food on the EU market.
In this respect, the European meat industry has implemented the cold chain for meat since the 1950s and has developed the necessary infrastructure and knowledge.
Since 2014, the Common Agricultural Policy provides support for, among others, constructing new and/or modernising existing slaughterhouses through investments under rural development or sectoral interventions.
It is up to Member States to choose to implement such measures, in line with the principle of subsidiarity.
[1] Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals during transport and related operations, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 [COM(2023) 770 final].
