Assuring Quality and Welfare at Control Posts: a European Perspective

Authors

  • Evangelia N. Sossidou Veterinary Research Institute - NAGREF, 57001, Thermi-Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Kees de Roest Research Centre on Animal Production - CRPA, 42121, Reggio Emilia, Italy

Keywords:

animal transport, control posts, quality assurance, welfare

Abstract

In this paper various welfare aspects of long distance transport of animal are introduced. Scientific evidence is presented together with ethical and public concerns, as well as enforcement problems with examples from current practice and research. The on-going project on ‘Renovation and promoting high quality control posts in the European Union’ is presented as it foresees a significant improvement of the equipment as well as the management of 12 Control Posts (CPs) located at the cross roads of important flows of animals transported over long journeys in the EU. The aim is to conclude with a model to assure quality and welfare during all phases of long distance transport and mainly when animals are uploaded and housed at a control post.

References

Broom, D.M., Indicators of poor welfare, British Veterinary Journal, 1986, 142, 524-526.

FVE, Transport of live animals: FVE position paper, Federation of Veterinarians in Europe, FVE/01/043, 18.05.2001.

SCAHAW, The welfare of animals during transport (details for horses, pigs, sheep and cattle), Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare, adopted on 11 March 2002: European Commission, 11.3.2002.

EFSA, Techical Report, Project to develop Animal Welfare Risk Assessment Guidelines on Transport, CFP/EFSA/AHAW/2008/02.

Adams, D. B., Thornber, P. M., Welfare aspects of the long distance transport of animals, Veterinaria Italiana, 2008,Volume 44 (1).

Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport, Home page address: http:// ec.europa.eu /food/ animal /welfare /transport /main_points_regulations _1_2005_en.htm.

EFSA, Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare on a request from the Commission related to the welfare of animals during transport (Question N° EFSA-Q-2003-094) adopted on 30 March 2004, The EFSA Journal 44: 1-36.

Parish, N., News release: Animal transports should be ‘on the hook’, not ‘on the hoof’ issued by Neil Parish MEP, 2008 - February.

Broom, D.M., Transport stress in cattle and sheep with details of physiological and other indicators, Dtsch. Tierarztl. Wschr., 2003, 110, 83-89.

Zanardi, E., Mussini, V., Ghidini, S., Conter, M., Ianieri, A., Survey on animal welfare and protection during transport in Northern Italy, Ann. Fac. Medic. Vet. di Parma (Vol. XXVII), 2007, pp. 33 - 42.

Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during transport, Home page address: http://eurlex.europa.eu /smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi! celexplus!prod! DocNumber&lg=en&type_doc= Directive&an_doc =1991&nu_doc=628.

Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine, Home page address: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/ LexUriServ/ LexUriServ. do?uri =CONSLEG: 1964L0432: 20071113:EN:PDF.

Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing, Home page address: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/ LexUriServ.do?uri= CELEX: 31993L0119: EN:NOT.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 of 25 June 1997 concerning Community criteria for control posts and amending the route plan referred to in the Annex to Directive 91/628/EEC, Home page address: http:// eur-lex.europa.eu /LexUriServ /LexUriServ.do?uri =CELEX: 01997R1255-20070105: EN:NOT.

Sossidou, E.N., Geers, R., Szücs, E., Gebresenbet, G., Gianniou, Μ., Farm animal welfare during intra-community long distance transports, In Proceedings of the 11th Panhellenic Conference of Veterinary Medicine, 2009, pp. 122-123.

Stevenson, P., Long distance animal transport in Europe:A cruel and unnecessary trade, Report for Compassion in World Farming, 2008 - June.

Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 amending Directive 91/628/EEC concerning the protection of animals during transport, Home page address: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/ LexUriServ/site/en/ consleg/ 1995/L/ 01995L0029-19950630-en.pdf

SANCO D5/2005/S12.548887, Evaluation of the feasibility of a certification scheme for high quality control posts, 2010 - May.

Welfare Quality ® Project: Science and society improving animal welfare in the food quality chain, 2012, Home page address: http:// www.welfarequality.net

Downloads

Published

2023-09-06