Michigan State University Extension
Extenstion International Trade Res. - 10179503
03/31/96
The EU has adopted a series of directives governing the treatment of live animals in transport. This animal welfare issue had been a topic of intense debate by the EU Commission and Council, and by the general public. The new measures may reduce output and raise costs to consumers. Higher production costs for EU producers may benefit U.S. livestock products competing in third country markets, since the EU can no longer offset higher costs by increasing export subsidies due to its GATT commitments.
Live animal transport directives: The new directives set a maximum travel time for live animals of 8 hours. Only specially equipped vehicles may transport live animals for a longer period. These vehicles must meet certain conditions, such as: - Adequate bedding on the floor of the vehicle; - The quantity of fodder on board the vehicle must be appropriate to the kind of animals being transported, and to the length of the voyage; - Direct access to the animals must be possible; - Adequate ventilation that can be adapted to the internal and external temperatures; - Moveable partitions to allow the creation of compartments; - Permanent devices allowing connections to water supplies during stops; - Vehicles used to transport pigs must also carry a sufficient quantity of ater on board to water the animals during the voyage.
For longer voyages, the directive also sets the intervals for feeding and watering the animals, as well as the duration of rest periods. The feeding, watering, and rest schedules depend on the type of animal being transported.
- After 9 hours of transport, unweaned calves, lambs, kids, and foals receiving a milk replacer, as well as unweaned piglets, must receive a rest period (at least 1 hour in length) sufficient for watering and, if necessary, feeding. After this rest period, they may be transported an additional 9 hours; - Pigs may be transported for a maximum of 24 hours. During this period, they must have a permanent source of water; - Domestic horses (excluding registered horses) may be transported for a maximum of 24 hours. During this period, they must be watered and fed,if necessary, every 8 hours; - After 14 hours of transport, all other animals must receive a rest period (at least 1 hour in length) sufficient for watering and, if necessary, feeding. After this rest period, they may be transported another 14 hours; - Beyond these fixed transport limits, animals must be unloaded, fed,watered, and given a rest period of at least 24 hours.
Public sentiment in the Community regarding the treatment of farm animals filled the headlines as animal welfare activists blocked trucks at ferry ports and closed down air freight shipments to prevent live animal transport within the Community. The Council had debated the issue on a number of previous occasions, but could not reach a compromise. Southern member states, typically recipients of live animals, preferred unrestricted transport, while northern member states favored more stringent welfare standards.
For member states that traditionally export live animals, restrictions on intra-Community transport may reduce demand for live animals, lowering the market price received by livestock producers. An increase in home slaughter of fattened animals may raise marginal costs to home country abattoirs. Restricting shipments of surplus dairy calves raises costs to dairy farmers who must allocate space on the farm for feeding out the surplus calves. Slaughterhouses may have to invest in new capital equipment to accommodate the lower-weight carcasses of calves. All of these factors raise the cost of producing veal and indirectly raise the cost of dairy operations.
The transport restrictions themselves may pose problems for animal health. Loading and unloading are the most stressful and injurious occasions for animals in transit. Facilities for unloading, resting, and feeding animals in transit could become a center for disease transmission from the volume of animals passing through the facilities, and create environmental concerns about waste disposal.
Other Animal Welfare Action: The EU will ban the use of sow tethers beginning in 2005. Complying with the legislative measures will raise costs to pork producers. Higher costs will lower EU pork production, lower pork exports, and raise prices for consumers. The cost of an untethered system is higher than the sow stall or tethering method for a number of reasons. Free-ranging pigs raise costs through increased management and waste disposal. Untethered facilities require straw bedding, which must be gathered and disposed of on a regular basis along with accumulated waste products. The soiled straw also raises disposal and environmental costs. Storing the straw prior to use requires additional capital investment in storage facilities. Another obstacle facing producers with untethered sows is scientifically administering feed to individual animals. Each sow requires a special ration at differing stages of her pregnancy. In an untethered environment, aggressive sows consume more than their required ration of food, possibly exceeding optimal weight during pregnancy. Less aggressive sows may be denied access to adequate nourishment at crucial times during gestation. Electronically regulated individual feeding stalls, activated by a device attached to a sow's ear, are capable of administering independent rations. However, this raises capital investment costs.
The United Kingdom passed national legislation banning sow stalls and tethers beginning January 1, 1999. U.K. producers may be at a disadvantage compared with other EU producers when their national legislation takes effect. The U.K. national legislation is more stringent than the Community legislation. U.K. pork producers are seeking structural subsidies to counter the cost disadvantage of complying with national legislation.
Veal production methods under fire: Current proposals, put forward by both the European Union and some member states, would outlaw some intensive veal production methods. "Veal crates" refers to tethering calves or confining them to indoor pens. Animal welfare activists prefer calves to be free-ranging in outdoor pastures. The rearing of calves in veal crates is already banned in the United Kingdom. The Commission is scheduled to address the issue of veal crates in 1997.