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 is finally going to be revised in the coming years, and the EU Commission has finally published the suggestions for its revision.
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.
In December 2023, the European Commission finally published the long-awaited proposal for the revision of the EU Transport Regulation. This proposal severely lacks the bold ambition needed to address the significant pitfalls in animal welfare. The proposal will now undergo amendments by the EU Parliament, Council of the EU and the Member States. FOUR PAWS calls for a strong revision of the transport regulation and immediate action to address the worst animal welfare issues.