Holly Cairns
Ceist:1179. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps taken by his Department to improve animal welfare standards on live cattle export journeys. [56489/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 17 January 2024
Ceisteanna (1179)
Freagraí scríofa
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is conscious at all times of its obligations to ensure that animals are protected from injury and undue suffering during transportation. When Veterinary Inspectors of the Department provide health certification for calves travelling to mainland Europe, they apply the standards laid down in EU rules (primarily in Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005) but also the Department’s own policies introduced in 2019 and 2020 which go beyond the minimum standards in EU rules. These changes impact all livestock transports, but particularly the intracommunity trade in unweaned calves. These changes include:
1. Increased minimum space allowances for calves, e.g., 11% extra space for calves of 55Kg, over than allowed in EU rules.
2. Veterinary Inspectors are instructed not to accept journey logs when forecasted temperatures equal or exceed 30°C en route at time of transport. The Department monitors forecasts in Europe in summer and winter months, issuing guidance up to three times weekly.
3. Policy of not approving transport of very small calves below 40kg bodyweight on long journeys.
4. The re-training period for drivers to retain their certificate of competence has been reduced from 10 years to 3 years. Driver behaviour is a major influence on animal welfare during transport.
5. In 2019 a booking system for unweaned calves was introduced to avoid overcrowding in the control posts in Cherbourg, where calves are fed and rested after their ferry journey from Ireland.
6. Unannounced accompaniment of calf consignments to Cherbourg by official veterinarians occurs during the peak transport season (Spring) to monitor the welfare of Irish calves during transport.
It is important to clarify that my Department only permits animals to be transported in compliance with the EU's animal welfare legislation, which is amongst the most progressive legal frameworks in the world. Furthermore, Ireland has national rules to protect the welfare of livestock being exported to third countries on dedicated livestock vessels, which lay down controls that are more stringent than EU rules, and which have been cited as an example by the European Commission to other Member States. These national rules include a stipulation that an official veterinarian of my Department must accompany the first voyage of every dedicated livestock vessel that takes place after the vessel's inspection and approval, or re-approval.
The Department is conscious of the need to ensure the welfare of the animals in transit and, as the regulator in this area, is satisfied that the systems in place in respect of the intra-community movement and extra-community movement of these animals are supportive of the welfare of the animals and in compliance with the relevant legislation. The Department continues to monitor and enforce compliance, to ensure the welfare of animals transported.