Your message for a strong EU animal transport regulation
Ask your MEPs to push for better animal welfare during transport
Every year, billions of animals suffer during transport. The EU is finally revising its 20-year-old animal transport regulation. This is actually good news – because, as we have been pointing out for years, the current regulation is too weak, has many loopholes and is not being properly implemented. But there is a catch: of the 3,000 amendments that Members of the European Parliament have submitted so far, some propose changes that would actually worsen the protection of animals during transport.
Instead of preventing problems such as injuries, stress and lack of care on those journeys and limiting the journey time, these proposals would increase the suffering of animals during transport and could even lead to their death. It goes without saying that implementing these amendments would be a disaster for animal welfare.
Some MEPs are particularly targeting the regulations on transport in hot weather. Some are proposing to remove the temperature limits for transport. This must not be allowed to happen. During our summer investigations, we regularly demonstrate how much animals suffer in extreme heat during transport. The signs of heat stress are clearly visible and it has been proven that excessive temperatures can be life-threatening for animals during transport. We have therefore been calling for temperature limits for all species for years. Current regulations are insufficient and leave out some animal species.
It would be disastrous for animal welfare if requirements such as temperature limits and journey time restrictions were removed from the draft. Instead, stricter regulations on temperatures and legally defined, species-specific and category-specific internal temperature ranges, as well as time limits, especially for the time on vessels (which currently doesn't even count as journey time) are needed.
Together, we can fight to ensure that the Animal Transport Regulation is strengthened, not weakened. This requires pressure from all of us now. Write to your country's MEPs and demand strong rules for animal transport – it only takes a click!
