IRU’s EU goods transport members have unanimously approved the organisation’s position on the European Commission’s proposal to amend rules governing the protection of animals during transport.
IRU recognises the European Commission’s efforts to improve the current rules for live animal transport, but more and stricter rules will not remedy animal welfare challenges during transport.
Legislators should instead further improve the proposal to:
- Fine-tune the liability of different parties in the logistics chain to allow more flexibility in the organisation and use of vehicles,
- Improve the training and understanding of all personnel active in live animal transport, not only that of drivers and attendants, and
- Enhance the compatibility of animal journey times with social rules, such as working time rules and driving and rest time rules, regulating road transport.
IRU Director of EU Advocacy Raluca Marian said, “The EU needs better and more applicable rules to ameliorate animal welfare during transport.
“We will only be able to enhance both the welfare of animals during transport and the operating conditions of road transport companies by making the rules governing the two more compatible. They are invariably linked.”