Document type: DG (SANTE) audit report published on the European Commission
Author: DG Santé – European Commission
Preview: This report describes the outcome of an audit of France, carried out remotely from 13 to 17 and on 28 November 2023 and on-the-spot from 20 to 24 November 2023 as part of Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety work programme.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the official controls on the protection of unweaned calves (still on a milk diet) during long journeys.
The audit concludes that overall, there is a system well set up and official controls are generally implemented as planned. The combination of certain deficiencies (gaps in the procedures, inadequate or not at all risk-based prioritisation of official controls and inadequate follow-up in some cases) impacts in the capacity of the system to ensure compliance.
The official control system avails of sufficient level of competence of involved staff (high level of competence at the central level), detailed documented procedures, and well-established reporting, communication, and coordination between local and central level as well as with other Member States. With some exceptions, the authorities deliver the official controls as planned and additional activities provide information on the long transport of unweaned calves. Gaps in documented procedures relate to the verification of specific requirements for the transport of unweaned calves during long journeys, for example:
- no guidance for evaluating the suitability of the watering systems for unweaned calves in the vehicles,
- no guidance for assessing requirements for the training of staff during the approval of a control post and the frequency of provision of liquids in assembly centers.
Other factors that reduce the effectiveness of the official controls are the occasional lack of or inadequate follow-up when checks found journeys exceeded the allowed time, and the absence of verification control procedures that could identify shortcomings in the official controls and provide insights for improvement and assurances to the stakeholders of compliance with animal welfare legislation.
The report contains a recommendation to the competent authorities aimed at addressing areas in which further improvements are required.
