Animal welfare organisations have uncovered evidence of a consistent lack of enforcement of EU Regulation (EC) 1/2005(1) relating to the transfer of live horses across Europe for transportation to slaughter. The breaches include no individual partitions, failure to feed, rest and water horses and lorries travelling large distances non-stop.

As a result horses are suffering needlessly.

Will the Commission exert pressure on individual Member States, to enforce this law more rigorously?

What is more, as there are sufficient slaughterhouses within the European Union, will the Commission amend Regulation (EC) 1/2005, to limit the amount of time that a horse may be transported to slaughter to no more than nine hours?

(1) OJ L 3, 5.1.2005, p. 1.