Document type: answer from the European Commission to Question E-004785/2025
Authors: question: Emma Fourreau (The Left). Answer: Mr. Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission
Question:On 26 March 2025, Brittany Ferries resumed the transport of cattle from Rosslare (Ireland) to Cherbourg (France), including unweaned calves travelling in indecent conditions, stacked in livestock vehicles without being able to rest, drink or feed. Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations provides that unweaned calves should be given a break after nine hours of transport in order to rest and be watered and fed.
In May 2025, the Commission noted that ‘for journeys involving long ferry legs, calves are not fed at the required intervals’. The transport of calves between Ireland and France is therefore in breach of EU legislation on animal welfare.
What plans does the Commission have concerning:
1. Penalties for transport companies which fail to comply with the legislation on rest time for unweaned calves?
2. Improving controls on the application of animal transport legislation?
3. Banning the transport of unweaned animals?
Answer:The welfare of unweaned calves during long-distance transport, including by means of roll-on roll-off vessels from Ireland to France, remains a matter of concern for the Commission, the Member States, and the wider public .
The report of the audit of Ireland carried out by the Commission in 2022[1] confirmed that unweaned calves are not fed on roll-on roll-off vessels as it is required by Regulation (EC) No 1/2005[2] posing an infringement to the current rules.
The Commission will continue working with the tools at its disposal to ensure full enforcement of this requirement. These include the close monitoring of efforts by the Irish authorities to address the identified shortcomings and achieve full compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1/2005.
The information provided by the authorities shows the efforts being made to develop a system for automatic feeding of calves at ferry journeys.
The Commission legislative proposal for a regulation on the protection of animals during transport[3] provides for stricter rules aimed also at facilitating better enforcement through clearer provisions, and more harmonised penalties.
The proposal better defines which of the involved actors bears legal consequences of infringements. The proposal is currently examined by co-legislators.
Concerning the transport of unweaned animals, based on the scientific opinions provided by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)[4], the proposal sets stricter rules for the transport of young animals and clear requirements for feeding of calves with milk or milk replacement in detailed intervals, and for using automatic feeding systems for long journeys.
[1] Audit Number: 2022 — 7503: https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/4700.
[2] Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 of December 22, 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, Jan. 5, 2005, p. 1).
[3] 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).
[4] https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7442.
From the European Parliament website
