WAV Comment: The AR movement has been calling for a ban on live transport to be replaced by a carcase trade for the last 25 years or more – we had a saying even back then – ‘On the hook, not the hoof’. So we are really pleased to see that finally after 25 years or more of AR campaigning, people like Reineke Hameleers, Director at Eurogroup for Animals has finally decided that transporting meat and carcasses is possible –
Yes, the need for more local slaughterhouses is very much needed as part of the scheme; as much as we detest the places; more local facilities will stop the long distance transport of live animals. There is only one group to blame for the closure of many local and regional slaughterhouses; and that is the EU. Local facilities as we (in the movement) have been saying for years, greatly reduces transport distance times and is much better for animals; as they do not suffer anywhere near as much as they do going between other member states.
We have been saying this for years and years; so why now do we hear this from Eurogroup as if the penny has just dropped (as we say in the UK) – or to put it another way; ;the bleeding obvious’ !!
I guess that organisations such as this have to justify their existence; staff and salaries. Real animal people do it for free !
“It was also mentioned that this should be substantiated by a solid regulatory framework setting a maximum journey time of eight hours for animals transported for slaughter, with a derogation for shorter journey time for animals at the end of their lives. All of this should be part of a comprehensive EU strategy produced by the Commission” – maybe somebody can correct me but did EU citizens in their droves not sign for a maximum of 8 hors a few years back ? – oh yes, the EU Commission decided otherwise to ignore the people and get into bed with the meat mafia to allow the Status Quo – no change. Sorry but ‘EU Strategy’ means that people who can decide nothing, decide that nothing can be done – and so on we go with no changes and continual calls from decent people for change. The EU Commission is utter junk; full of self important’s who think they are above the normal man; and they have some kind of right to ignore his wishes; regardless of them being paid by the people as servants of the people !
“With the passing of time, more reasons to justify a shift from transporting animals alive to a trade in carcasses and meat have emerged”.
What complete and utter rubbish; as if the past few years have suddenly been different. The movement has been giving evidence of the cruelty and abuse of the live trade for at least 25 years; we are specialists at it; it is not something new, so don’t pretend that this is a new happening, please.
“Citizens have also shown their strong disapproval of live animal transport: in 2016-2017, Eurogroup for Animals’ #StopTheTrucks campaign, which called on EU decision makers to reduce and ultimately end long distance live animal transportation, exceeded its target of 1 million signatures and reflected the findings of a Eurobarometer survey showing that a staggering 94 percent of European citizens believe that protecting the welfare of farm animals is important”. And you know what; all the way citizens have been ignored by the EU; and they also have been calling on EU decision makers to wake up; get off their butts and make changes. When I was campaigning against the trade back in 1980; we were asking for change then; so why only now in 2020 may we start to see something happen ? – a bit late of EU, you could say !
Having personally investigated the trade and campaigned for change for what, 27, 28, 30 years; – see a bit more at https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/about-us/ – I am bewildered to see that only now a strategy for change from live to carcase in the EU is looking like a possibility – not it WILL happen; just a possibility. It is all down to those masters of ignorance, the EU Commissioners, to see what they come up with as a result of this ‘new’ report of the obvious.
For me, I am quite happy to take this campaign to my grave if need be – and you know what; if they drag their heels as much as they have done for the past 30 years; then I probably will.
For me, it is:
Regards Mark – continue to fight the fight.
A shift to meat and carcasses is not only long-awaited, it is totally justified
https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/a-shift-to-meat-and-carcasses-is-not-only-long-awaited-it-is-totally-justified
Transported alive for up to several days or even weeks, despite legislation and 21st century values – this is still happening to animals in their millions every year, both within and outside Europe. But there’s no need. New evidence shows that a shift to a meat and carcasses only trade instead of transporting animals alive would be justified not only by animal health and welfare reasons, but also by environmental indicators, economic considerations and existing practices.
On 18th November stakeholders gathered together with EU and National representatives for the launch of a new report by Eurogroup for Animals, ‘A strategy to reduce and replace live animal transport: Towards a meat and carcasses only trade’, and to discuss how to make such a shift happen.
The workshop, ‘Moving Matters: From Hoof to Hook’, was co-organised by the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the European Union and Eurogroup for Animals, and opened by Carola Schouten, Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. During the event participants discussed how to practically achieve a shift to transporting meat and carcasses. Logistic solutions need to be supported by incentives, like product labelling for better marketability, financial support – for example, under the new CAP – or taxing products with a poor environmental footprint. In order to effectively mitigate the drivers of long distance live animals transport, the main transport routes should be assessed, and the need for more regional slaughter facilities should be mapped out.
It was also mentioned that this should be substantiated by a solid regulatory framework setting a maximum journey time of eight hours for animals transported for slaughter, with a derogation for shorter journey time for animals at the end of their lives. All of this should be part of a comprehensive EU strategy produced by the Commission, in line with its response to the Parliamentary implementation report on live transport.
The accompanying report provides an overview of trade flows and analyses the driving forces behind the transport of animals, putting forward proposals on how to mitigate those drivers to ease the transition to a meat and carcasses only trade, including case studies of where alternatives have successfully been tested or established.
Leading bodies such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) – as well as the animal welfare movement – have long been calling for a shift towards a meat and carcasses trade. Citizens have also shown their strong disapproval of live animal transport: in 2016-2017, Eurogroup for Animals’ #StopTheTrucks campaign, which called on EU decision makers to reduce and ultimately end long distance live animal transportation, exceeded its target of 1 million signatures and reflected the findings of a Eurobarometer survey showing that a staggering 94 percent of European citizens believe that protecting the welfare of farm animals is important.
With the passing of time, more reasons to justify a shift from transporting animals alive to a trade in carcasses and meat have emerged. In the last few years, increasingly prolonged periods of high temperatures over the summer months have led some Member States to suspend live trade. As climate change increases the chance of these periods occurring, it will become increasingly important for meat supply chains that currently rely on live transport to develop and implement alternative strategies to ensure that supplies are not interrupted. A debate on live animal transport in July had the majority supporting Commissioner Andriukaitis’ call for the suspension of journeys during summer.
“Transporting meat and carcasses is possible, and it is already happening across the EU and beyond,” said Reineke Hameleers, Director at Eurogroup for Animals. “We need the full involvement of farmers, EU Institutions, national Governments and all the actors in the supply chains, both in the EU and in third countries, to make sure it is effectively developed and implemented. We trust the EC will bring forward its promise to work on such a strategy.”
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