Navigation systems and animal transport
28.11.2012
Question for written answer E-010775-12
to the Commission
Rule 117
Kartika Tamara Liotard (GUE/NGL)
Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 requires that from 1 January 2009 all forms of animal transport exceeding 8 hours (for Equidae and animals of bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine species) must be equipped with a navigation system that records and provides information on the positioning of the forms of transport and the corresponding date and time of the journey, as well as information concerning the opening/closing of the loading flap (Annex I, Chapter VI, point 4).
This navigation system could be considered as a useful means to guarantee better enforcement of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport. It is often cited as being a very good means to check whether the rules are being complied with or not.
1. Does the navigation system, as required by Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, provide enough information to verify whether during transport the following provisions have been complied with:
- —loading density
- —sufficient deck height to allow the animals to stand in a natural position
- —functioning water system
- —functioning ventilation system
- —watering/feeding of cattle and sheep after a maximum of 14 hours of transport; watering/feeding of horses every 8 hours
- —constant access to water for pigs?
2. Can the aforementioned navigation system provide enough information to determine whether animals were really unloaded, once an opening of the loading flap is registered?
3. If the answer is no to either or both of the preceding questions, what measures does the Commission envisage to make improvements to the functioning of the navigation system?
OJ C 317 E, 31/10/2013