John Stuart Agnew, on behalf of the EFD Group. – Mr President, we already have adequate legislation on animal welfare. What is missing is the enforcement of current rules.

In the UK, we have two inspection bodies: the RSPCA and Trading Standards. They will frequently be present at markets or abattoirs where lorries full of livestock are being unloaded. They will check the truck. Does it have retaining gates at the back internally? Are the internal compartments of the right size? Is it properly ventilated? Then they look at the animals. Are they of roughly the same size within those compartments? Are long-horned separated from polled? Have they included heavily pregnant ewes? Are there any lame animals? Are there any weak animals? Did any animals give birth? These people prosecute if they are not happy with what they find.

I object in the strongest possible terms to politicians from countries where people engage in something like bull-baiting lecturing me and other farmers on how to transport our livestock. There is nothing scientific about eight hours. It is a purely random figure. This is gesture politics.