European animal welfare supporters have launched a campaign to improve transportation laws.
Initiated by Danish MEP Dan Jorgensen and international organisation Animals’ Angels, the “eight-hour campaign” calls on European Commissioner for Health John Dalli to establish a maximum eight-hour limit to the journey of animals transported to the slaughterhouse.
Project manager Christine Hafner yesterday said the long journeys caused animals a lot of suffering. Animals are often cramped and suffer thirst and dehydration, heat stress, and injuries from getting their legs stuck between the sides of vehicles.
“Sheep and cattle may sometimes spend up to 29 hours on board a vehicle in such conditions, then have a 24-hour rest period, only to be transported for a further 29 hours. Some die as a result,” Ms Hafner said.
In March, a Written Declaration regarding the eight-hour transportation limit was signed by the majority of MEPs while in June, a petition signed by more than one million EU citizens was handed over to Mr Dalli.
“While standing before the cameras, Mr Dalli promised a legislative proposal to be published by 2014 which would review the rules concerning live animals, including transport times,” campaign co-ordinator Adolfo Sansolini said. “Yet a week later, he denied making such a statement and had his staff affirm that enforcement of the present rules was sufficient.
“As the European Commissioner responsible for animal welfare, he should be the one striving to end such suffering, like his predecessors before him.”
Speaking to The Times yesterday, Mr Dalli said: “I never agreed with the eight-hour campaign. I have the same interests as them in improving the animals’ conditions, but their proposed methods are not the solution.”
The campaign also includes a conference being held today at the Mediterranean Conference Centre with Mr Dalli in attendance.