Document type: Response from the European Commission to question E-002112/24
Authors: question: Anja Hazekamp (The Left). Answer: Mr Varhelyi on behalf of the European Commission
Preview: Question in English: Two shocking incidents of animal cruelty have recently been observed during the transport of animals in Austria. During the export of pregnant animals from Austria, footage on the Bulgarian-Turkish border shows a calf being cut out of a pregnant, dead cow, following which the calf is thrown on to the blood-drenched ground, while shaking violently[1]. Other footage shows animals unable to stand upright due to illness or exhaustion being brutally dragged from a vehicle by their front legs.[2] An overloaded truck carrying 142 calves was also stopped in Austria. A veterinarian on site confirmed that this transport from the Netherlands should never have taken place because the transport documents were not in order, the duration of the transport and the planned rest breaks were not respected and the water system for the animals was inadequate[3].
1. Can the Commission outline its views on the mistreatment of calves during these transports?
2. What action and sanctions has the Commission already taken against the relevant authorities in the Member States concerned for a flagrant infringement of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005?
3. Does the Commission consider serious cruelty to animals to be reason enough to suspend the transport of live animals from Austria?
Answer: 1. & 2. Member States are responsible to enforce EU rules on the protection of animals during transport, as set out in Regulation (EC) No 1/2005[1]. At the same time, the Commission closely follows the relevant cases, including the specific instance referred to by the Honourable Member whereby the Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare immediately reached out to Türkiye to offer his assistance to find a solution. The Commissioner is committed to be in close contact with the relevant authorities and to be part of the solution also in the future.
3. Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 does not foresee provisions for banning the export of animals at EU level. However, based on the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice, Member States' competent authorities shall refuse to approve journeys for export if the operator is unable to demonstrate that EU rules on protection of animals during transport can be complied with until the place of destination. On 7 December 2023, the Commission adopted a proposal for a new Regulation on the protection of animals during transport which includes stricter conditions and rules on export of animals to third countries. This proposal is now on the table of the co-legislators for further discussions and amendments
[1] Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97; OJ L 3, 5.1.2005, p. 1-44
