Originally from: lina
                        
Commission proposes signing the Council of Europe
Convention on the Protection of Animals during
International Transport

Brussels, 30 October 2003

Commission proposes signing the Council of Europe
Convention on the Protection of Animals during
International Transport

The European Commission adopted a proposed Decision
for the European Union to sign the revised European
Convention for the Protection of Animals during
International Transport. This international Convention
will increase the requirements for the protection of
transported animals both within the EU and more widely
in Europe. It revises the existing Convention adopted
in 1968 and introduces major improvements for animal
welfare that are consistent with the recent Commission
proposal on animal transport (see IP/03/1023) and
existing EU legislation.

What is the Convention?

The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of
Animals during International Transport lays down the
general conditions for transporting animals such as
the design of the transport, the health of the
animals, the humane handling of the animals and
veterinary controls and certificates. It also sets out
special conditions for the transport of animals by
road, air, sea and rail.

The first Convention was adopted in 1968. All Member
States have implemented the current Convention, along
with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Norway,
Romania, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey. Several other
Council of Europe members, have not signed the
Convention.

In 1995 the contracting parties of the Convention
decided to update it in light of new scientific
knowledge and practical experience. In October 2001
the Council of Ministers of the EU gave the Commission
a mandate to negotiate a revision of the Convention.
These negotiations closed in June 2002.

What changes does the revised Convention make?

The revised Convention lays down essential principles
on animal transport that will apply to all species.
Detailed principles are set out for the most widely
traded animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and
horses. More detailed rules apply to different types
of transport.

A large proportion of animals carried in international
transport are destined for slaughter in the country of
destination. The Convention aims to restrict this
traffic to carcass meat and encourage animals to be
slaughtered in the country of origin.

Some of the improvements in animal welfare are also
reflected in the Commission's proposal on animal
transport(1). Both aim to identify the chain of who is
involved in animal transport and define “who is
responsible for what”. Both also introduce much
stricter rules for long journeys. According to the
Convention, there should be a route plan for any
journey longer than 8 hours, and this should show when
and where the animals will be unloaded and rested.
This is similar to the Commission proposal which
applies to any journey longer than 9 hours.

Why is the European Union signing the Convention?

The EU attaches great importance to a high standard of
protection for transported animals, both in the EU and
internationally, and this is why it will become part
of the European Convention on animal transport in
addition to the Member States. The signing of this
Convention will be a major step towards improving the
welfare of animals throughout wider Europe. The new
legislation will operate in parallel with EU and
national law.

The European Union is an important trader of live
animals. For example, the EU imported more than
900,000 lambs, 60,000 cattle and 40,000 horses and
donkeys from Romania alone in 2002.

Member States will sign and ratify the Convention in
parallel with the EU. The EU's aim in signing the
Convention is to accelerate this process in the Member
States.

When does the Convention into force?

The Convention needs to be ratified by at least four
countries before it can enter into force (the EU
counts as a country for this purpose). The exact date
of entry into force will be six months after the date
that the fourth country officially notifies its
ratification to the Council of Europe.

The text of the revised Convention will be opened for
signature in Chisinau in Moldova on 6 November 2003 at
the 113th Session of the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe.

(1)Proposal for a Council Regulation on the protection
of animals during transport – COM(2003)425 final

http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/1487|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display=