This Government supports the live export of animals as it is an important feature of normal activity in Ireland's agri food sector. My Department facilitates this trade, in line with existing legislation on the protection of animal welfare, recognising its critical importance to the Agri- Food sector, while ensuring that live animal exports are carried out in compliance with legislative requirements.
My Department consistently monitors long distance transport and has introduced additional requirements over the years based on feedback from our inspectors. My Department has received the recommendations which were published publicly by the European Food Safety Authority in September 2022. These recommendations will be highly influential when the European Commission publishes its review of the EU’s Animal Transport Regulation (Regulation EC number 1 of 2005) in the coming months.
I will continue to insist that such a review is informed by science and evidence based, and take account for example professional opinions and recommendations received from my officials as part of the normal course of their work.
My Department continues to work with the Commission to engage extensively with stakeholders and assess the need for and the implications of future changes and appropriate transitional arrangements, as necessary in the context of the Farm to Fork Strategy, and my own Department's animal welfare strategy.
