Transportation
The RSPCA’s aims to improve enforcement of the existing rules and improve the conditions regarding journey times and vehicles used, in particular to get an eight-hour maximum journey time implemented. Please add your views - all comments are moderated by the RSPCA.
The RSPCA believes all animals should be slaughtered close to the point of production, and is calling for the replacement of long-distance transportation of livestock with a 'carcass only' trade. We believe no animal should travel for longer than 8 hours to slaughter.
In January 2007, revised EU legislation protecting animals during transport came into affect, which introduced:
- an 8-hour limit for 'unbroken' horses
- stricter rules on whether animals are deemed fit to travel
- compulsory, welfare-focused training and competency testing for long-distance livestock hauliers
- the introduction of global positioning systems on long distance vehicles
The European Commission is expected to present further proposals later in 2009. The RSPCA wants to see more focus given to journey times and space allowances in the new proposals.
Downloads
- Briefing on live transport
36.38 kb
Have your say
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Sharon, Aberdare said:
I am currently a meat eater and feel a bit of a hypocrite. However I do think the welfare of the animal is paramount, from the conditions its kept in, the length of the animals life (I'm totally against eating 'baby' animals- I think there should be a minimum age of at least 18 months) to the end. I vehemently disagree with long distance transportation of live animals. I've been brought up eating meat, looking forward to the Sunday roast etc but the older I get the more revulsion I feel when I think about these poor animals.
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Michelle, Hull said:
It is so warming to read other animal lovers thoughts and concerns. Every day I drive past fields full of sheep and cows etc. It pains and sickens me to one week see a field full of new born lambs, with spring in the air, and then less than 2 months later on the same drive in the fields are almost empty again as the lambs have gone off to slaughter. I don't know how anybody can drive these animals to their death, I wonder how they sleep at night.
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Carol Gardner, Leigh said:
There is no need for animals to be treated in this way it is pure greed by people in this so called business and also greed of people who think they have to have more choice of meat.
Well all you meat eaters are you proud that you cause so much suffering to animals because I am disgusted and ashamed that humans cause so much unnecessary suffering. -
Amanda, Honiton said:
I have around 100 poultry including geese ducks and guinea fowl and they are all free range and I am always appauled at the treatment that animals suffer at the hand of some people. Animals are like people they have emotions and personalities like us and in their language tell you whats what.
Transporting animals live is not good over 1 hour in a closed truck but I have driver to london with my birds sat on the seat in my car and they were very content as we stopped at regular times.
In the foot & mouth crisis we killed those cows for what to save our export deals not for the cows as the disease would have run its course with out any problems but the politicians could not have that and again its now the the poor pigs turn to save us from pig flu they are killing them yet if we farmed in a proper way this would not happen. its time for us to stop this intensive farming. -
Leigh Carroll, Nelson said:
There should be no need for transportation at all - everyone should go vegetarian/vegan so no animal needs to suffer and then be slaughtered.