Transport of very young or unweaned animals in the context of the requirements set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations

29.6.2020

Question for written answer E-003803/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Sylwia Spurek (S&D)

Companies transporting live animals still struggle to comply with the requirements of Regulation No 1/2005/EC (the ‘Regulation’). This is especially problematic when one takes into account the long‑distance transport of vulnerable categories of animals such as very young or unweaned animals (e.g. calves and lambs).

• 1.What steps has the Commission taken to address the systematic failure of some Member States, such as Hungary and Romania, to enforce the Regulation in relation to the transport of lambs, especially with regard to headspace problems and overcrowding?
• 2.Is it aware that transport vehicles that frequently transport unweaned animals do not have drinking devices which are appropriately designed and positioned for the categories of animals to be watered and fed on board the vehicle as laid down in Article 3(a) and (h), in connection with point 2.2 of Chapter VI of Annex I of the Regulation? If so, has it taken any steps in relation to this issue or is it planning to do so?
• 3.Is it aware of the practice of mixing animals of different age categories to prolong the maximum-allowed journey times indicated in Article 1.4(a) and (d) of Chapter V of Annex I of the Regulation? If so, has it taken any action in this regard or is it planning to do so?