LIVE EXPORT The Export and Transport of Horses for Slaughter
| LIVE EXPORT - The Export and Transport of Horses for Slaughter There is continuing concern about the export of horses for slaughter from the UK. Some of the most commonly asked questions relating to the transport of horses for slaughter and export of horses from the UK are answered below by representatives from World Horse Welfare |  |
Q1. How many horses are transported for slaughter in the EU each year?
In 2005, just under 100,000 horses were transported alive into and between the EU Member States for slaughter
Q2. Does the European Union protect the welfare of these horses?
In January 2007, legislation was introduced - EU Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the Protection of Animals during Transport. World Horse Welfare lobbied for specific protection for horses, including provisions to ensure that they travel in individual stalls on the lorry and that journey limits were put in place.
Individual stalls, resting and feeding horses off the lorry during journeys at set intervals, ensuring horses are fit to be transported and providing water at intervals are all now included in this Regulation. However, World Horse Welfare has evidence that the Regulation is rarely fully enforced and thousands of horses are travelling in inhumane and conditions that fail to meet the terms of the law on a daily basis in Europe.
Furthermore, there is no limit on the overall journey a horse can make in order to be slaughtered for human consumption, meaning many thousands travel in these conditions for days on end.
Q3. Are there any other positive provisions in this new Regulation?
Yes, and these cover vehicle approval, training of animal handlers, journey plans, fitness to travel, vehicle stocking density and ventilation and satellite monitoring of the vehicle's movements by satellite.
Q4. Will this Regulation stop the long distance transport of horses entering the EU for slaughter?
No, because it is the view of lawyers in Brussels that EU laws on animal welfare cannot be applied to countries outside the EU because this would contravene the international obligations of the community.
Q5. What are the main countries of origin of the horses that are being transported for slaughter in the EU for human consumption?
Primary source countries are Poland, Spain and Romania. However many other Eastern European countries also export horses for slaughter. Whilst numbers are steadily decreasing from Poland and Romania, the number of horses exported from Spain show a
steady increase year on year. 84% of the horses transported for slaughter in the EU in 2005 went to Italian slaughterhouses (primarily Southern Italy).
Q6. Has the number of horses being transported for slaughter in the EU increased or decreased in recent years?
The number of horses being transported for slaughter in the EU has decreased by 40% since 2001.
Q7. Does the Regulation permit the UK to prevent the export of horses for slaughter?
The Regulation lays down welfare conditions that must be met in all Member States for the transport of animals. It also permits Member States to put in place additional welfare measures within their own borders and during transport by sea but these measures have not yet been activated. .
Q8. Is there any UK legislation in place that protects our own horses from being exported for slaughter?
World Horse Welfare was founded on the issue of ending the live export of working horses for slaughter from Great Britain.
In 1937 the charity was successful in achieving Minimum Values legislation, which is still in place today. This law provides protection for British working horses below a minimum value as well as all ponies from being exported.
World Horse Welfare continues to monitor this legislation and to campaign to put an end to the long distance transport of horses to slaughter throughout Europe altogether.
Q9. Is the Minimum Values legislation out of date?
World Horse Welfare is aware that the Minimum Values legislation will be reviewed in the future but we have been assured by Ministers that it will not be revoked until something equally effective can be put in its place.
Q10. Have any horses been exported from the UK for slaughter in recent years?
Neither World Horse Welfare nor Defra have any solid evidence that the export of horses or ponies for slaughter has taken place from the UK in recent years. However, any reports that exports of horses or ponies are occurring are investigated and World Horse Welfare continues to monitor the situation very closely.
Q11. What is World Horse Welfare's position on the export of horses from the UK and the long distance transportation of horses for slaughter?
We totally oppose the long distance transport of horses for slaughter and believe that horses should be slaughtered as near as possible to the premises where they live. As a result we will continue to publicly and rigorously oppose any live export of horse and ponies from the UK and the long distance transport of all horses for slaughter in Europe. This could be achieved by the adoption of short finite limits in EU legislation for all horses when the welfare Regulations are reviewed in Brussels in 2009.
Q12. Does World Horse Welfare have a view on the slaughter of horses for human consumption?
We neither oppose nor promote the slaughter of horses for human consumption since we are only concerned with the animal whilst it is alive. This is a matter for the horse owner. We are concerned to ensure that animals are kept, transported and slaughtered humanely and without suffering.
Q13. What about horse passports? Will they have an impact on the horse export problem?
No. The two issues are separate except that an animal that has a declaration on its passport that it may not be slaughtered for human consumption in the UK cannot be slaughtered for human consumption in any other Member State.
Q14. Are the movement of all horses covered by EU Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005?
No. This Regulation does not apply to the transport of animals:
- Where the transport is not in connection with an economic activity; or
- When the animal is an individual animal, is accompanied by its owner or other responsible person and is fit for the intended journey; or
- Where the animals are pet animals accompanied by their owner on a journey (but horses and ponies are not defined as pets).
Q15. Are their any general rules that apply to the transport of horses, ponies and donkeys?
No animal may be transported unless it is fit for the intended journey, and all animals shall be transported in conditions guaranteed not to cause them injury or unnecessary suffering.
Information provided by World Horse Welfare January 2008
Reg. Charity No. 206658
http://www.ilph.org/
www.makeanoise.co.uk
Related Article:
World Horse Welfare ‘Make a Noise' Campaign and Petition
| TURN UP THE VOLUME TO HELP HORSES FOR SLAUGHTER, URGES WORLD HORSE WELFARE |
| Handle With Care: Stop Long Distance Transport of Animals for Slaughter |
Added on: 22/09/08. Views: 336
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