Business information

Movement of Livestock - Welfare control

The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 2006 and EU Regulation (EC) 1/2005 set out the rules for transporting animals in connection with an economic activity. That is, any transporting of animals undertaken as part of a business or commercial activity, which aims at achieving financial gain, whether direct or indirect, for any person or company involved with the transport.

No animal shall be transported unless it is fit for the intended journey, and all animals shall be transported in conditions guaranteed not to cause them injury or unnecessary suffering.

Below is a summary of the main requirements. You should read this along with Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives.

Am I affected by the new rules?

Some journeys are exempt from some of the provisions. For example the Regulation does not apply to the transport of animals:

• Where the transport is not in connection with an economic activity; or
• Transport to or from veterinary practices or clinics under veterinary advice; or
• When the animal is an individual animal, is accompanied by its owner or other responsible person and is fit for the intended journey; or
• Where the animals are pet animals accompanied by their owner on a journey
  
  The above are examples; it is not a definitive list.
  
  Animals that cannot be transported
  
  
• Unfit animals - See Annex 1 Chapter 1 of Council Regulation 1/2005
  
• Very young animals except if the journey is less than 100 km, e.g. calves of less than 10 days of age, pigs of less than three weeks and lambs of less than one week
  
• Calves of less than 14 days of age on journeys exceeding 8 hours will not be permitted
  
• Pregnant female animals will not be considered fit for transport if they have reached the latest stage of gestation (within 10% of the estimated time of the gestation before birth) and for a period of one week after giving birth
  
• Cats and dogs under 8 weeks of age may not be transported commercially, unless accompanied by their mother
  
  What will I have to do?
  
  You need to ensure you are familiar with the new rules and transport animals in accordance with them.
  
  In particular if you transport animals in connection with an economic activity over 65km (approx. 40 miles) you will need to apply for a transporter authorisation. This will be valid for 5 years. Any previously granted authorisation issued under the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 will be invalid from 5 January 2007.
  
  There will be two types of authorisation – one for short journeys (over 65km and up to 8 hours) and one for long journeys (over 8 hours).
  
  A long journey authorisation is also valid for short journeys, so you only need to apply for one of them.
  
  Under the legislation everyone transporting animals must apply the following good practice:
• Journey times are kept to a minimum
• The animals are fit to travel
• Those handling animals are trained and competent
• The vehicle and its loading & unloading facilities are designed, constructed and maintained to avoid injury and suffering
• Water, feed and rest are given to the animals as needed, and sufficient floor space and height is allowed.
  
  Transporter authorisation for journeys over 65 km
  
  The legislation sets out additional requirements for journeys over 65km (approx. 40 miles). Transporters must
  
• Hold a transporter authorisation
• If transporting horses, farmed animals or poultry, ensure drivers and attendants are in possession of a certificate of competence (from January 2008)
• Demonstrate that they have appropriate staff and equipment to transport animals in a proper way and to have no record of serious infringements of animal welfare legislation in the preceding 3 years
• Complete an Animal Transport Certificate for each journey (same as now)

There are also a number of further requirements for long journeys over 8 hours (in addition to those stated above). Transporters must:

• Be in possession of a long journey transporter authorisation
• If the vehicle is used for transporting farmed animals and horses, get it inspected and approved
• Ensure contingency plans in case of emergencies are in place
• Ensure the Journey Log has been completed (for journeys of unregistered horses and livestock) where the journey is going outside the UK

How do I get my transport authorisation?

The authorisations will be issued by the Animal Health Veterinary Service (SVS). Authorisations will last for 5 years unless revoked or suspended for welfare infringements.

Application forms and accompanying guidance notes are available now:

• Via the Defra website (select from external links - then choose 'animal welfare' & 'welfare at transport')
• From Livestock Markets

Completed applications should be returned to the SVS at:

Welfare in Transport Section
State Veterinary Service
Block C, Government Buildings
Whittington Road
Worcester WR5 2SU

Tel: 0845 603 8395

The SVS can also be contacted on the above number for advice in connection with transport authorisations or by email at the following address: wit@svs.gsi.gov.uk

Training and competence for drivers and attendants and assembly centre personnel

Drivers or attendants responsible for the transport of farmed animals, horses and poultry over 65km will be required to hold a certificate of competence by 5 January 2008.

Assembly centre staff will not be required to obtain a certificate of competence but will need to have undergone training.

How do I get my Certificate of Competence?

By 5th January 2008, those transporting cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and poultry by road on journeys over 65km in connection with an economic activity must be independently assessed in their competence. Those assessed as competent will receive a certificate of competence. The certificate will be specific to the role the transporter or attendant is charged with, the length of journeys to be undertaken and the species to be transported:

a) Assessment of those involved in journeys over 65km and up to 8 hours may be made by means of a theory test;
b) Assessments of those involved in journeys over 8 hours must also include practical assessment of their competence including driving and animal handling skills.

Further information of this element of the Regulation can be found in chapter 4 of the main guidance notes which are available on the DEFRA website.

The following independent bodies have been designated to undertake assessments for competence and award competence certificates.

NPTC, Part of the City & Guilds Group
Stoneleigh Park
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 024 7685 7300
Fax: 024 7669 6128
E-mail: information@nptc.org.uk
Web: www.nptc.org.uk

Lantra Awards
Lantra House
Stoneleigh Park
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 024 7641 9703
Fax: 024 7641 1655
Email: bradley.parker@lantra-awards.co.uk Website: www.lantra-awards.co.uk

NPTC and Lantra Awards are designated to assess for competence and award competence certificates to transport: cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, equines and poultry (including game birds).

Competent authority designations allow the relevant bodies to operate throughout the UK.

We are aware that Foot and Mouth Disease and Bluetongue have effectively prevented livestock farmers and hauliers from devoting time to achieving the certificate of competence. As part of the package of aid measures recently announced by Hilary Benn, it has been agreed with UK enforcement authorities that no sanctions will be taken against transporters not in possession of competence certificates until the end of April 2008.

This arrangement applies only to domestic journeys within the UK. To avoid any possibility of enforcement action whilst abroad, exporters of farm livestock, horses and poultry must obtain competence certificates before 5 January 2008.

Specific requirements for the transport of horses

• Horses must be transported in single partitions on journeys longer than 8 hours, or when transported in a vehicle on a roll-on roll-off ferry (other than a mare and foal)
• A minimum space above the withers must be given
• Unbroken ponies may not be transported in groups of more than four and cannot be transported on journeys longer than 8 hours by road
• Foals under 4 months must have appropriate bedding and (unless with their mother) may not be transported for longer than 8 hours by road

Should you have any difficulty in accessing the DEFRA website please contact an animal health officer at
Hertfordshire Trading Standards on 01727 813849.