Working together for better animal welfare at EU level

Together with colleagues from Eurogroup for Animals, the Albert Schweitzer Foundation, Vier Pfoten, and the German Deutscher Tierschutzbund, we had the opportunity to engage in a constructive exchange at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (BMLEH). Dr. Katharina Kluge, Chief Veterinary Officer and Head of Subdivision 32 “Animal Health, Animal Welfare,” and Dr. Nicole Schertl, Head of Division 321 “Animal Welfare,” informed us about the ministry's animal welfare policy priorities.

We expressly welcome the fact that Germany remains part of the so-called Vught Alliance—an alliance of progressive EU member states such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. The alliance is committed to ambitious reform of EU animal welfare legislation, particularly in the area of animal transport.

A joint position paper by the Vught Alliance on animal transport, which includes specific demands on transport times, feeding and watering intervals, and transport in extreme temperatures, can be viewed here. The joint press release from 2022 can be found here. 

In it, the countries call for, among other things, the “introduction of a maximum transport time of 8 hours for all animals intended for slaughter” and “limiting the transport time for unweaned animals.” They also recommend “clear guidelines [...] on how [EU member states] can ensure that transport companies actually comply with the requirements set out in the Transport Regulation.” In addition, the Alliance wants “a ban on certain exports of live animals to third countries over long distances, both by land and by sea.” The countries in the Vught Alliance also support “the EFSA's recommendations regarding the ceiling height required for cattle.” 

We are pleased that the German government is continuing this important course and actively promoting better conditions for animal transport at the EU level.