EU tightens animal transport rule
but
regretted that nothing had been done to restrict the length of
journeys.
January
5, 2007
European
law says calves must have bedding until two weeks
old
The
stress suffered by animals as they are transported across Europe
will be lessened as new laws come into force.
Lorries
used to carry cattle for eight hours or more must be licensed to
ensure they are equipped with drinking systems and temperature
monitors.
New lorries must also have satellite navigation, to make it easier
to check compliance with travel and rest times.
The rules comes into force days after another EU law banned veal
crates, in which calves have no room to turn.
Animal welfare group Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) said the
new regulations on animal transport were an improvement, but
regretted that nothing had been done to restrict the length of
journeys.
We are delighted that veal crates have been banned,
but it doesn't mean things are perfect for calves - far from
it 
Peter Stevenson, CIWF
It welcomed the fact that the lorries would now have to be
licensed, and that from January next year, drivers would have to
have a certificate of competence to prove that they had been
trained to care for the animals.
Transport firms carrying live animals already need to be
licensed.
The new regulation also bans the transport of female animals less
than one week after they have given birth, and new-born
animals.
These are defined as:
- Pigs less than three weeks old
- Lambs less than one week old
- Calves less than 10 days old
No bedding
Live transports of calves from the UK to Europe resumed in May last year, after a 10-year ban imposed because of the UK outbreak of BSE, or mad cow disease.
This important animal welfare legislation aims to reduce the stress
and harm that animals can experience during land and sea
journeys 
Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou
Between May and October, 44,000 animals had been transported to continental Europe, according to CIWF. Some are taken to distant destinations - such as southern Italy - on journeys lasting up to 60 hours.
Peter Stevenson of CIWF said that despite the ban on veal crates, calves born in the UK would still be fattened in conditions that were illegal in this country.
Although calves now had to be kept in groups, the British requirement for "appropriate bedding" did not exist in most countries to which the calves were exported, so they were usually kept in buildings with bare concrete or slatted floors.
Further steps
The law banning veal crates only insists on bedding for calves up to two weeks old.
"We are delighted that veal crates have been banned, but it doesn't mean things are perfect for calves - far from it," he said.
He added that CIWF would continue to campaign for a ban on live transports lasting more than eight hours, and for a complete ban on live transports from the UK.
European Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said the European Commission would bring forward new proposals on travelling times, and on the densities at which animals could be kept by the end of 2009.
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/index_en.htm