The report looked at the effectiveness of Regulation (EC) 1/2005, implemented in January 2007, which ensures protection for animals during transport.

Overall the Regulation has improved the welfare of animals transported, however the report highlighted that there are huge differences between Member States in the progress they have made in implementing the Regulation.

With this in mind it recommends that the implementation, enforcement and infringement penalties within the EU should be harmonised and communications between Member States should be improved.

The report also suggests good practice guides for operators.

"The findings of this report clearly demonstrate the benefits of action at EU level for important issues such as animal welfare," Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner, John Dalli said.

"Nevertheless, the report also documents the need for improvement, in particular in enforcing existing legislation. The Commission will, therefore propose a series of concrete actions to further improve the conditions for animals during transport".

National Farmers' Union Scotland President has said that it is crucially important to Scottish livestock producers that any notion of further restrictions to transport times and stocking densities for livestock vehicles is not included in the report.

However Compassion in World Farming has slated the report, saying that it is appalling that there are no proposals to change the current legislation.

CIWF agrees that enforcement needs to be improved, however has said that enforcement alone cannot properly address the animal welfare problems that frequently arise during long journeys.

CIWF fully supports the use of GPS systems on long-distance trucks to transmit date to a EU database.

Further Reading

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You can view the full report by clicking here.