Ireland joins 7 EU member states in defending animal transport

Ireland has joined with seven other EU countries to affirm support for the continuation of live animal transport and live exports within and outside the EU. In the run-up to a Council of the EU meeting of agriculture ministers next Monday (January 30), the delegation from Portugal has prepared a document defending animal transport, which it will present to the meeting on behalf of itself as well as Ireland; France; Greece; Latvia; Lithuania; Romania; and Spain. Live animal transport has come in for intense scrutiny in the EU in recent years, with a number of members states and political groupings calling for tighter regulations and for limiting distances and even destinations to which animals can be transported. The EU’s current legislation on animal transport is in the process of being reviewed. In the new document, the eight member states say: “Animal transport is a critical activity in animal production systems in Europe and, worldwide, [is] necessary for the smooth functioning ...