The urgent need for action concerning the export of bovines to non-EU countries is discussed at an information event by the German party "Alliance 90/The Greens" under the leadership of Bernd Voß (Member of the Landtag Schleswig-Holstein). We report on the situation of certain non-EU export routes and inform about inspection reports published by…

Whilst inspecting the cattle market in Lagow, our team notices a cow with overgrown hooves. We are taking photos and writing down the ear tag number. In the meantime, the trader who bought the animal to the markets starts yelling at us. The Veterinary Inspector sees the whole situation and decides to thoroughly inspect the trader`s documents and…

Our Farm Animal Service (FAS) team visits the farm in Wola Zamkowa again to check on the lame mare. So far, we do not see any progress. This is our fourth visit in total. Because our latest treatment does not work, we decide to look deeper into the hoof. Finally, we find an abscess located almost one centimetre underneath the hoof sole. We clean…

Every year before Easter, Italy imports tens of thousands of lambs for slaughter, mainly from Romania and Hungary. AWF|TSB teams check on the transport conditions, supported by the Italian animal welfare organisation ENPA. We inspect a total of eleven trucks, three of them together with the Italian police. All three are in breach of the EU animal…

The national competent authorities of Poland and Hungary respond in a very positive way to our handout about sheep transport.

Based on our experience and legal knowledge, TSB|AWF prepared a document summarising the most frequent violations found during the transport of sheep, especially lambs. In 2018 and this year before Easter – peak time…

This month, our team visits the animal markets seven times, including the annual horse fair in Skaryszew (see investigation report 12^th of March 2019). Despite the national Veterinary Inspection protest in Poland, the inspectors are present at the cattle market every time. Moreover, they organise joined controls with ITD (Road Transport Police)…

Our FAS team visits the farm in Wzdol to check on the infrastructure that can be accessed by farm animals in emergency cases. Polish municipalities are obligated by law to prepare such spots. The place is big enough to accommodate over a dozen farm animals. However, it needs cleaning and small renovations. Next, our farriers control the farm in…

We are hearing the verdict in the case of a bull with part of metal chain ingrown in his head, the one that we documented during cattle market in May 2018.As always in cases of abuse, we reported it to the Police. This time, two persons are accused: the previous owner who allowed the chain to grow into the bull’s head, and the trader who - against…

For the second time stakeholders and experts meet in Grange (DG SANTE) to discuss animal transport issues. The claims of our laywers against the EU Commission supported the focus projects on the agenda. In three working groups cattle exports, transport of unweaned calves and extreme temperatures are discussed. The platform was initiated to give…

The Ministry for Environment of the federal country of Hessen stopped with a decision animal exports to 14 third countries. The reason is concrete evidence of risks for the animals´ welfare during transport and slaughter. During the round table discussion, where we are participating, the industry is requested to provide evidence that the…

Our team is invited as an expert to the first four-day edition course on animal welfare during transport (advanced level) under the initiative "Better Training for Safer Food" by the European Commission. Attendants of the event include veterinarian competent authorities from different EU member states involved in official control activities on…

The TSB|AWF and Eyes on Animals (EonA) team returns for the 4^th time to Skaryszew to evaluate whether anything has changed at the annual horse market. Chances for a lasting change are higher with a new Mayor elected last autumn. In February, we were invited to give a training on legal requirements related to the market operation. The participants…