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European Union

EU Regulation on Animal Welfare Requirements for Livestock Vessel Transport

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The European Union has established a set of strict regulations to ensure the welfare of animals transported by livestock vessels. The new regulation, published on 24 April 2023, aims to strengthen the performance of official controls and identify weaknesses in Member States' compliance systems. The regulation requires that livestock vessels be inspected by a team of experts, including official veterinarians and maritime experts, to verify compliance with animal welfare requirements.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EU Regulation requires that inspections on loading and unloading of livestock vessels be performed by a team of inspectors, including an official veterinarian and a maritime expert.
  • The maritime expert must meet specific requirements, such as having a valid certificate of competence STCW II/2 or III/2, or completing an examination as a naval architect or mechanical engineer.
  • Competent authorities at exit points at seaports must verify that contingency plans in the event of emergencies meet the requirements provided for in Article 7 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/372.
  • The organiser of a journey must provide the competent authority at the exit points with relevant documentation, including the transporter authorisation, at least five working days prior to the date of inspection.
  • Video or photograph evidence of inspections and official controls must be taken and kept by the competent authorities for the duration of the period of validity of the certificate of approval of the livestock vessel.
  • The regulation emphasizes the importance of verifying the welfare of animals during transport and requires that the competent authorities take into account the results of port State control inspections.

Statistics:

  • The regulation requires that inspections on loading and unloading of livestock vessels be performed by a team of inspectors, including an official veterinarian and a maritime expert.
  • The maritime expert must meet specific requirements, such as having a valid certificate of competence STCW II/2 or III/2, or completing an examination as a naval architect or mechanical engineer.
  • Five working days prior notice must be given to the competent authority at the exit points for the organiser of a journey.
  • Video or photograph evidence of inspections and official controls must be taken and kept for the duration of the period of validity of the certificate of approval of the livestock vessel.

Sources:

  • Regulation (EU) 2023/842 of the European Commission, published on 24 April 2023 (COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2023/842).
  • Article 21(8) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council, published on 15 March 2017 (OJ L 95, 7.4.2017, p. 1).
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/372 of the European Commission, published on 17 February 2023 (OJ L 51, 20.2.2023, p. 32).
  • Directive 2009/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, published on 23 April 2009 (OJ L 131, 28.5.2009, p. 57).
  • Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council, published on 22 December 2004 (OJ L 3, 5.1.2005, p. 1).

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