Irish MEPs Have to Defend Live Animal Transport

IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said the recommendations from the ANIT Committee in the European Parliament for live animal transport has the potential to severely impact the competitive trade in this country.

Brendan Golden said this approach is not acceptable and must be rejected by our MEPs when voted on in the full Parliament.

He said the unique island status of Ireland must also be recognised in any proposals in order to ensure Irish farmers continue to have unfettered access to the Single Market.

“Irish farmers support and implement the highest welfare standards in the world and this includes the strictly controlled transport of animals.  Seeking to change the rules because other countries fail to implement them is not acceptable,” he said.

“These proposals could be voted on next week. Our MEPs must ensure they are rejected and that the original compromise amendments are tabled and supported,” he said.

He said IFA is directly involved at EU level through Copa and with farm organisations from other member states in having these unnecessary recommendations rejected.

The recommendations are based on the outcome of poor enforcement of regulatory requirements in some regions of the EU.  Rather than focusing on better implementation, the Committee has put forward recommendations without scientific basis that penalise farmers in Ireland who implement transport measures that are equivalent to, or superior, to the existing requirements.

Brendan Golden said these recommendations serve to remove competition from the sale of animals and create the potential for welfare issues by prohibiting transport of unweaned animals under 35 days of age and transport for unweaned calves over 35 days to a maximum of two hours.

The Livestock Chairman said the recommendation to prohibit the transport of in-calf animals within the last third of gestation will effectively change the landscape for farmers and marts in the sales of breeding females.

“Farmers have taken huge strides in raising the genetic profile of the breeding herd, providing efficiencies that will contribute to meeting our climate targets,” he said.

A critical component in raising the genetic merit of our breeding herds for farmers is the purchase of higher index replacement heifers. Suckler farmers in particular seek out the very best heifers in specialist sales of in calf heifers, these proposals will prohibit the sale of animals within three months of calving.