Allister concerned about losing flexibility in animal transport rules
15 January 2009
Speaking in a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the rules governing animal transport, Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister warned against an absolute limit of 8 hours, not repeatable, as at present. This, warned the Ulster Euro MP would be ruinous for live exports from Northern Ireland, where the essential sea journey eats up much of the permitted travel time.
The current Regulation came into effect in 2007, but already the Commission is looking to tighten it up, with one of the proposals out for consultation being an absolute one-off 8 hour limit. It is this which concerns Mr Allister.
In the course of his remarks Mr Allister said:-
"I have no problem with efficient and proper rules governing animal welfare, but I do object to a constantly tightening noose around the neck of our agricultural industry to the point where practical functioning is rendered nigh impossible.
I fear such a development emerging from the Commission consultation on reviewing maximum travelling times and stocking densities in transporting animals. The Commission failed to get its way on this in the 2005 Regulation, but less than 2 years after it came into effect in 2007 they are trying again, with one of the proposals an 8 hour transport limit, which is not repeatable. This would be ruinous for exports, which have to include a sea journey, from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK.
Such onerous condition would not compare with the huge distances animals are transported for slaughter in South America, from whence we happily import. So, yet again we would punish our own farmers while caring nothing about what we import. Why has the EU got this obsession with cutting off its nose to spite its face?"
