Horse Transport News
Archive 2007
New Horse Transport law delayed.
EU laws on the transportation of horses, which require professionals to pass a certificate in horse transport, will not be enforced until April, Defra has revealed, not the 5 January deadline originally set. But it has warned that horse transporters should not use this as an excuse to delay qualifying.
Secretary of state Hilary Benn said no action will be taken against horse transporters who are not in possession of horse transport competence certificates by January because of the effects of foot-and-mouth (FMD) and bluetongue. This agreement extends until the end of April 2008.
But a Defra spokesman has warned horse transporters are not included in this waiver unless they were unable to take the certificate due to FMD or bluetongue restrictions.
ILPH goes undercover for welfare in Horse Transport
THE International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) is stepping up its fight against the live transport of horses for slaughter by employing two full-time undercover investigators to monitor horse transport conditions across Europe.
On 5 January, new EU regulations were introduced to tighten existing Welfare of Animals in Transport legislation laid down in 1995 with special attention to the transport of live horses for slaughter. While the ILPH successfully lobbied for the introduction of partitions for horse transport journeys of more than 8hr, no changes were made to 1995 rules on rest periods, overall journey times and space per horse.
Under the regulations, horses can be transported only for 24hr.
If after these journey times the horses have not reached their destination, they must be unloaded, fed and watered and be rested for 24hr at an EU-approved control post. During the journey, the horses must be given liquid and, if necessary, fed every 8hr. If, on reloading the horses for transport, an animal is assessed as unfit, then it should not continue the journey.
The two ILPH investigators were hired late last autumn to monitor horse transport throughout the EU, including Britain. Their brief includes fact-finding about the slaughter trade across Europe, working with European charities, observation at EU checkpoints and other assignments.
EU member states (MS's) are also required to ensure the horse transport regulation requirements are being complied with, by carrying out non-discriminatory inspections of horses, transport and accompanying documents.
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