Council Resolution

of 19 June 2001

on the protection of animals during transport

(2001/C 273/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Whereas:

- Declaration No 24 annexed to the Final Act of the Treaty on European Union calls upon the European institutions and the Member States, when drafting and implementing Community legislation, in particular on the common agricultural policy, to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals;

- the report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the experience acquired by Member States since the implementation of Council Directive 95/29/EC amending Directive 91/628/EEC concerning the protection of animals during transport has brought deficiencies to light in the application of the provisions laid down by the aforementioned Directive, particularly with regard to compliance with travelling time limits and loading densities and the lack of care for, and brutal mistreatment of, animals, mainly on long journeys;

- the various animal health crises experienced by the Union in recent years (in particular classical swine fever in the Netherlands (1997/98) and more recently foot-and-mouth disease) have been exacerbated by the large number of movements of live animals both within the Member States affected by the epizootic diseases and between the various Member States;

- use of the staging points established by Council Directive 95/29/EC to allow animals to be transported over long distances may involve a risk of spreading certain contagious diseases (such as foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine fever in particular);

- the specialisation of livestock farms, the concentration and intensification of animal production in certain regions of the Member States and the rationalisation of slaughterhouses and establishments for processing their products have resulted in a significant increase in animal transport both within the Member States and in trade between Member States,

CONSIDERS THAT:

- the Member States and the Commission should ensure the effective implementation and strict enforcement of existing legislation;

- in the near future, new initiatives should be envisaged to improve the protection and welfare of animals as well as preventing the occurrence and spread of infectious animal diseases;

- for movements which remain essential, in order to safeguard the welfare and health of animals during and after transport, more stringent requirements should be put in place, so as to prevent pain and suffering;

INVITES the Commission to submit to the Council as rapidly as possible:

- suitable proposals for achieving these aims, in the light of the experience built up by Member States in implementing Directive 95/29/EC;

- an animal health and welfare report on:

(a) issues arising from the transport of live animals also taking into account the public interest to prevent the spread of infectious animal diseases;

(b) economic consequences for the European Union generally or for regions thereof of any changes proposed.