Every year, more than 1.5 billion poultry and 49 million live cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and horses suffer horribly while being transported across borders within the EU and to third countries. The EU-wide legislation regarding the transport of live animals will finally be revised in the coming years. This is an important opportunity to tell decision makers that this cruelty is unacceptable. But we need your voice.
Sign our petition today and drive change for billions of animals.
Our demands:
- a ban on the export of live animals outside the EU
- a ban on the transport of unweaned animals
- a ban on long-distance transport over eight hours (4 hours for rabbits and poultry)
- a ban on the transport of live animals via sea.
Long transport times
Under current rules, pigs can be transported for 24 hours without a break, and cattle for 29 hours with only a one-hour break. After 24 hours, this cycle can be repeated as often as it takes until the animals arrive at their destination. This means that they could be on the move for several days or weeks. Inadequate transport often results in sickness, injury or even death.
Transport of pregnant animals
Animal exports used for breeding populations in third countries are also highly problematic. Pregnant cows, sold as breeding animals, are transported for days over thousands of kilometers, with premature births often occurring during transport. After giving birth and being milked for a short period of time the cows are then slaughtered, in cruel conditions which do not comply with either EU nor OIE (World Organisation for Animals Health) standards.
Accidents
In addition to this systemic suffering, accidents often occur. Between December 2020 and March 2021, 2,500 young bulls were stranded at sea in torturous conditions before eventually being killed in the port of Cartagena, Spain.
FOUR PAWS demands a system reform on a European level.
We are calling on the French Presidency of the European Council, and all EU Member States to finally put an end to cruel long-distance transport and replace this with transports of meat and genetic material. A change in the law is vital to protect animals!
FOUR PAWS is also calling on the European Commission for a strong revision of the transport regulation and immediate action to address the worst animal welfare issues.