19/04/2002 
Regulations differing from EU regulations for international animal transports planned in Germany
The Lower Saxony Ministry for Nutrition, Agriculture and Forestry now presented a
Now an unexpected passage was entered into the paper to be decided on in Germany. This pas-sage says that the time needed for loading, depending on the kind of animals to be transported, must be added to the period of transport. Against one’s better judgement and against common practice in the European Union, Germany chooses solo effort again – without reflecting about the consequences. Smoothly loading the animals takes quite some time indeed. According to the kind of animals to be transported and to the construction of the vehicle, loading may last as much as up to 3 hours’ time. This time would then have to be subtracted from the allowed period of transport in future. Given an average speed of transport of 60 km / h for long-distance transports, it will be almost impossible to guarantee for gentle animal transport across the borders. Which might make European competitors very happy. The question may be asked whether or not this way of acting does foster behaviour that is unfavourable for the protection of animals. You can imagine that it’s very likely that – watching the clock – animal-friendly loading will cease to happen in future, just like a speed of travelling which is adapted to the animals’ demands. This cannot be what is intended to happen!
The protection of animals would be disserved in Germany, if this regulation – differing from the EU regulation – would be followed. The consultants for the protection of animals of all German federal lands are now required to demand for an amendment of this new draft of the manual.
manual for animal transportsby which all veterinary authorities and all industries involved in animal trans-ports shall be allowed for a uniform way of action in clearance of international animal transports. This paper is meant to be finally discussed among the consultants for the protection of animals of all German federal lands in week 16 / 2002. Everyone involved had so far supported the manual and had more or less agreed about its contents and applications. In the run-up time already, the manual had contributed to eliminating problems or misunderstandings in realising international animal transports. This had also been possible thanks to an unambiguous statement of the EU commission regarding the realisation of the decree no. 615/98 and in particular regarding the definition of the times allowed for transport in the so called transport schedule. According to this, only the moment at which the vehicle leaves the place of loading is decisive for the trans-port schedule to be made for each animal transport. The loading itself is accordingly of no importance for the time of transporting.
Now an unexpected passage was entered into the paper to be decided on in Germany. This pas-sage says that the time needed for loading, depending on the kind of animals to be transported, must be added to the period of transport. Against one’s better judgement and against common practice in the European Union, Germany chooses solo effort again – without reflecting about the consequences. Smoothly loading the animals takes quite some time indeed. According to the kind of animals to be transported and to the construction of the vehicle, loading may last as much as up to 3 hours’ time. This time would then have to be subtracted from the allowed period of transport in future. Given an average speed of transport of 60 km / h for long-distance transports, it will be almost impossible to guarantee for gentle animal transport across the borders. Which might make European competitors very happy. The question may be asked whether or not this way of acting does foster behaviour that is unfavourable for the protection of animals. You can imagine that it’s very likely that – watching the clock – animal-friendly loading will cease to happen in future, just like a speed of travelling which is adapted to the animals’ demands. This cannot be what is intended to happen!
The protection of animals would be disserved in Germany, if this regulation – differing from the EU regulation – would be followed. The consultants for the protection of animals of all German federal lands are now required to demand for an amendment of this new draft of the manual.
Comments...