Document type: audit report published by the European Commission
Author: the European Commission
Summary in French (translation): Final report of an audit conducted in France from November 13 to 21, 2025, to assess animal welfare controls during transport by livestock carrier vessels to third countries
This report describes the results of an audit of France, conducted remotely on November 13 and on-site from November 19 to 21, 2025, as part of the work program of the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety. The objective of this audit was to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the measures in place to prevent injury or unnecessary suffering to animals (cattle, sheep, and goats) during their transport by livestock carrier vessels to third countries.
France had undergone a similar audit in 2020, which concluded that controls regarding vessel approvals and pre-loading operations were insufficient to minimize animal welfare risks. The report included five recommendations, which were accepted by the French authorities. Consequently, this audit focused primarily on the follow-up to these recommendations and on France’s implementation of the new legal requirements set forth in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/372 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/842.
The audit found that the French authorities effectively carry out port inspections to minimize the risk of unnecessary injury or suffering to animals during their transport by livestock carrier to third countries. However, these inspections are conducted in a manner that deviates from EU legal requirements. In particular, the team of inspectors responsible for approval and pre-loading inspections does not include the required official veterinarian and maritime expert. Furthermore, there is no provision requiring an official veterinarian to conduct official inspections on board the vessel during the first voyage following approval. In 2025, all voyages departing from France benefited from the presence of a livestock producer responsible for monitoring the animals’ welfare on board. These observers report their findings regarding the voyage to exporters and importers. This system is considered a best practice. The report contains three recommendations addressed to the competent authorities to address the identified shortcomings.
Link to the report (PDF in English)
Preview:
This report describes the outcome of an audit of France, carried out remotely on 13 November and on the spot from 19 to 21 November 2025 as part of the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety work programme. The objective of the audit was to evaluate the suitability and effectiveness of the measures in place to prevent injury or undue suffering to animals (cattle, sheep and goats) during transport by livestock vessel to non-EU countries. France had a similar audit in 2020, which found that the controls on approvals for vessels and pre-loading were inadequate to minimise the animal welfare risks. The report included five recommendations which were accepted by the French authorities. Therefore, this audit focused mainly on the follow-up of those recommendations and France’s implementation of new legal requirements laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/372 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/842.
The audit found that the French authorities carry out the controls at port effectively to minimise the risk of injury or undue suffering to animals during transport by livestock vessel to non-EU countries. However, the controls are done in a manner deviating from EU legal requirements. In particular, the team of inspectors carrying out approval and pre-loading inspections does not include the required official veterinarian and maritime expert. In addition, there is no provision for an official veterinarian to carry out official controls on board the vessel during the first voyage following approval. In 2025 all voyages from France included the presence of a stockman to monitor the welfare of the animals on board. These observers report their findings from the voyage to exporters and importers. This scheme is considered good practice. The report contains three recommendations to the competent authorities to address the shortcomings identified.
Link to the report (.pdf)
