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Animal health and welfare

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Animal welfare: Implementation of EU Welfare in transport Regulation (EC) No 1/2005


New Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related operations

“No person shall transport animals or cause animals to be transported in a way that is likely to cause injury or undue suffering to them” (Source: Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives)

Introduction

In the UK we have always emphasised the need for animals to be transported in a way that would not cause injury or unnecessary suffering. This will continue. All persons who take animals on a journey, whatever the length, should always apply the following good transport practice:

  • The journey is properly planned and time is kept to a minimum and the animals are checked and their needs met during the journey
  • The animals are fit to travel
  • The vehicle and loading and unloading facilities are designed, constructed and maintained to avoid injury and suffering
  • Those handling animals are trained or competent in the task and do not use violence or any methods likely to cause unnecessary fear, injury or suffering
  • Water, feed and rest are given to the animals as needed, and sufficient floor space and height is allowed


Position from 5 January 2007

From 5 January 2007, a new Regulation on the protection of animals during transport applies across the European Union (EU), with some elements coming into force later in 2008 & 2009. This replaces European Directive 91/628. The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 (WATO) and its equivalent in N.Ireland, which implemented the Directive, have been revoked by The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 and parallel legislation in Scotland, Wales and N.Ireland. These implement the EU Regulation in the UK.

The Regulation applies to all those involved with the transport of live vertebrate animals in connection with an economic activity. For example:

  • livestock and equine hauliers;
  • farmers; and
  • commercial pet breeders.

The Regulation also applies to those working at:

  • markets;
  • assembly centres; and
  • slaughterhouses.

The Regulation does not apply to the transport of animals:

  • where the transport is not in connection with an economic activity;
  • transport to or from veterinary practices or clinics under veterinary advice; where the animal is an individual animal accompanied by its owner (or other responsible person) and is fit for journey; or
  • where animals are pet animals accompanied by their owner on a private journey.

The Regulation comes into force in three stages. Please view the timetable to see how this will happen.

Guidance on the new rules

Summary

A summary of the main requirements of the Regulation is available.

Main guidance

Guidance on The Welfare of Animals During Transport Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 Adobe acrobat pdf file (312 KB) on the protection of animals during transport.

This is a living document that will develop in light of experience implementing the Regulation.

Technical and detailed annexes

Part 2 of the guidance (which is referred to in the main guidance) contains technical and detailed annexes exploring in more depth some of the requirements of the Regulations. These are available below:

Fitness to travel


Vehicle specifications

Transporting animals by air or sea


Other annexes

We welcome feedback on the guidance to improve later versions. Please send any comments to: aw-transport@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Transporter authorisation application forms

From 5 January 2007 if you transport animals in connection with an economic activity over 65 km (approx 40 miles) you must have a valid transporter authorisation. The application forms and guidance notes are below:


Journey Logs

From 5 January 2007 anyone exporting farm livestock or unregistered horses is required to complete a Journey Log (WIT 7). This will need to be approved by the relevant Animal Health Divisional Office for the place of departure. The journey log replaces the existing route plan form (ERA 20).

Journey Log Translations

Different versions of the journey log are available, in which section 3 has been translated into French, German, Italian and Spanish. These have been produced to aid completion and return of journey logs. If transporting animals to any of these destinations, please use the appropriate version:

WIT 7 (F); WIT 7 (G); WIT 7 (S) and WIT 7 (I).

Extension sheets

Because some journeys involve a number of rests and transfer points, extension sheets to sections 1 and 4 of the journey log are available and should be used to help record the full journey. If using the extension sheets, these should include the journey log reference number and be returned to the Animal Health Divisional Office in the area the journey is starting, along with your completed journey log.

WIT 7 (S1 ext) and WIT 7 (S4 ext).

Animal Transport Certificates

These are required for journeys of any species of animals over any distance or duration EXCEPT journeys involving involving farm livestock and unregistered horses on export journeys over 8 hours which require a Journey Log instead.

The Animal Transport Certificate is required to inform the following: origin and ownership of animals; place of departure and destination; date and time of departure and expected duration of journey. NB Farmers transporting their own animals in their own means of transport on journeys of up to 50km from their holding are exempt from this requirement.

We refer to the provision of this information as an Animal Transport Certificate (ATC). This is not a new requirement and as previously there is no prescribed format for the information required to be presented. Any other document containing the required information - such as an Animal Movement Licence - may be used, if preferred. For convenience, we have produced an ATC template Adobe acrobat pdf file (15 KB).

Publicity

A leaflet and poster publicising Regulation 1/2005 have been produced:


We have also produced a series of booklets covering the Regulation’s specific requirements for the transport of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses/ponies and poultry.

Copies of these booklets can be obtained free of charge from:

Defra Publications
Admail 6000
London
SW1A 2XX

Order line: 0845 955 6000
Fax: 01709 881673
Email: defra@cambertown.com

NB: When ordering, please quote relevant PB reference.

Vehicle inspection and approval scheme

From 5 January 2007 vehicles used for transporting farm livestock and horses on long journeys (those in excess of 8 hours) must be inspected and approved by the competent authority of a Member State or a body designated by a Member State. The scheme document Adobe acrobat pdf file (121 KB) and appendix B Adobe acrobat pdf file (161 KB) sets down how that inspection and approval will be carried out in the United Kingdom.

As the competent authority in England we have designated, with effect from 1 December 2006, the following certifying bodies to carry out inspections and provide certification in accordance with the scheme:

Freight Transport Association
Hermes House
St John’s Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN4 9UZ

Tel: 01892 552235
Email: twells.admin@fta.co.uk

SAI Global/EFSIS
P O Box 165
Winterhill House
Swondon Drive
Milton Keynes
MK6 1PB

Telephone number - 01908 249973
Fax number - 01908 249965
Email: fabbl@efsis.com

CMI Certification
Hanborough Business Park
Long Hanborough
Oxford
OX29 8SG

Tel: 01993 885610
Email: Jackie.cleaton@cmicertification.com

As the competent authority in Scotland, SEERAD has designated the following as a certifying body:

Scottish Food Quality Certification
Royal Highland Centre
10th Avenue
Ingliston
Edinburgh
EH28 8NF

Tel: 0131 335 6600
Email: info@sfqc.co.uk

Please contact the certifying bodies directly for information on how to get your vehicle(s) approved.

Whilst the Inspection and Approval Scheme is UK-wide, for practical reasons alone, we would suggest contacting an approved body only in the country you (or your company/partnership) is registered or one that is a reasonable distance from you.

If you transport animals overseas you must hold a vehicle approval certificate if any of the EU Member States involved in the journey (transiting or destination) require one.

We have produced guidance that provides information on the Regulation's requirements for vehicle equipment in terms of ventilation and temperature monitoring equipment Adobe acrobat pdf file (163 KB) .

Training and Competence Certification

Training

From 5 January 2007, transporters of vertebrate animals in connection with an economic activity and market and assembly centre staff handling animals are trained in the relevant technical provisions of the Regulation.  For transporters this covers: fitness for travel; the means of transport; use of its facilities; loading, unloading and handling; watering and feeding intervals, journey times and rest periods; space allowances; and documentation. For market and assembly centre staff: fitness, handling and separation.

The precise format and who may provide training is not specified in the Regulation. Training may be by means of on-the-job training combined with practical experience or by formal methods such as those leading to standards equivalent to qualifications accredited into the National Qualifications Framework.

Competence Certification

By 5 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 document and accompanying technical annex guidance document 2L ‘Training and Competence requirements’.

ADAS will be running a series of workshops across England in January 2008 to raise awareness of the training and competence element of the EU Regulation. The campaign: “Welfare During Transport Regulation – Certificate of Competence. What’s Involved?”, will run from Monday 14 January to Thursday 31 January. Those wishing to attend one of these workshops should contact ADAS on 01522 521302 or by email at: animalhealth@adas.co.uk

As the competent authority in England, we have designated the following independent bodies 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).

The British Driving Society
Mrs. T Styles, Executive Secretary
83 New Road
Helmingham
Stowmarket
Suffolk
IP14 6QA
Tel: 01473 892 001
Fax: 01473 892 005
Email: email@britishdrivingsociety.co.uk
Web: www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk

NB British Driving Society will not be undertaking assessments for competence until further notice.

British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust
Suite 16, Unit 8, Kings Court
Willie Snaith Road
Newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 7SG
Tel: 016 3856 0743
Fax: 016 3866 0932
Email: info@bhest.co.uk
Web: www.bhest.co.uk

BDS and BHEST are designated to assess for competence and award competence certificates to transport equines only.

As the competent authority in Scotland, SEERAD has designated NPTC via the Scottish Skills Testing Service to undertake assessments for competence and award competence certificates.

Scottish Skills Testing Service
Skills Testing Centre
Young Farmers Centre
Ingliston
Edinburgh
EH28 8NE
Tel: 0131 333 2040
Fax: 0131 335 0108
Email: sstsadmin@sayfc.org
Web: www.sayfc.org/ssts/

Scottish Skills Testing Service are designated undertake assessments 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.

Regulatory Impact Assessment

A Regulatory Impact Assessment Adobe acrobat pdf file (191 KB) was prepared to accompany The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006.

Public consultation

A public consultation on the implementation in England of EU Regulation 1/2005 ran from 8 May to 31 July 2006. Requests for documents should be sent to aw-transport@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

Other Member States

We cannot guarantee that other Member States have made the same interpretation of the Regulation as we have. Derogations granted, requirements for transporter authorisations and vehicle approval may all differ from ours. Therefore, when taking animals overseas in connection with an economic activity we strongly recommend that transporters check with the competent authority/Agent/appropriate contact in the relevant Member State(s) for details of their requirements.

Page last modified: 7 January, 2008

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs