Thursday, 4th December 2008
Letter to the Editor on the transportation times of live animals
Dear Sir,
You recently published an article in which you highlighted my support for a petition calling for an EU time-limit of 8 hours on the transportation of livestock for slaughter. You did not carry the full text of my press release on this issue in which I specifically stated that such time limits would be subject to derogations for remote rural areas and islands such as Orkney and Shetland. Nor did you clarify that I have agreed to support this on-line petition for the rigorous implementation of the 8-hour transportation limit for animals going for slaughter, to stop the cruel breach of the existing EU regulations in many Member States, particularly in the Southern Mediterranean area and in some parts of Eastern Europe.
The 8-hour mandatory limit was agreed in December 2004 and entered into force in January 2007 in all 27 Member States of the EU, with special derogations applying to longer journeys such as upgrading in vehicle standards, rest periods, access to water, temperature control and adequate ventilation. A complete transport ban was introduced on certain animals such as calves under 10 days old and lambs less than one week. These transport rules are strictly observed in Scotland, where we have some of the best practice in the whole of the EU.
So the 8 hour mandatory journey time, subject to derogation, is already the law in the UK. I am seeking to do nothing new with my support for the on-line petition apart from putting pressure on the European Commission to ensure that the existing law is adhered to and that the horrific cruelty that is still commonplace in certain countries, particularly in respect of the transportation of horses for slaughter, is stamped out.
Yours sincerely,
Struan Stevenson MEP
