Document type: Answer to Question E-004230/2025 from the European Commission
Authors: question: Esther Herranz García (EPP). Answer: Mr. Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission
Question: It has come to light that the European Commission commissioned Ernst & Young (EY) to conduct a study on animal welfare at the time the proposal on animal welfare during transport was being dealt with[1]. It has emerged that EY professionals met with industry representatives in Spain to hear their views.
However, this study – which reportedly would have served as a basis for analysing the proposal’s impact – is not available on the Commission’s website, nor is it attached to the proposal. In light of this situation:
1- Does the Commission plan to make the EY study public?
2- What are the main findings of that study and what methodology did it use?
[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 Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 (COM(2023)770 final, 2023/0448(COD)).
Answer: An external study supporting the impact assessment accompanying the legislative proposal to revise the regulation on the protection of animals during transport was concluded in 2023. The study is publicly available[1]. The study, together with other studies, supported the Commission’s impact assessment published together with the legislative proposal in December 2023[2]. The study the Honourable Member is referring to has not been commissioned in the context of the animal transport proposal, but carried out, in line with the Commission’s rules on Better Regulation, in the context of the work related to aspects of animal welfare other than animal transport.
[1] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/d67220ce-94e1-11ee-b164-01aa75ed71a1.
[2] https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-welfare/animal-welfare-during-transport_en (see ‘Link to impact assessment and supporting documents’).
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