Photo – Valerie Cameron.

Friday 24 October 2014

We have now had a response from the DG Health and Consumers to our evidence submitted to Commissioner Borg on 8/8/2014.

Original SAV references are as follows:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/08/08/england-882014-eu-live-animal-transport-update-sav-write-to-eu-commissioner-responsible-for-live-animal-transport/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/07/29/england-sav-now-commences-action-with-the-eu-commission-regarding-live-farm-animals-in-transport-sample-letter-to-copy-and-send/

The EU response dated 16/10/2014 from Mr. Van Goethem, Animal Welfare Director at the DG for Health and Consumers (who have responsibility for animal welfare issues in the EU) can be seen below.

In the past we have provided evidence to Mr. Van Goethem relating to live animal transport; and we thank him again for his most recent response to our submittal.

On page 2, last paragraph of his latest response, Mr. Van Goethem  refers to a report which we provided relating to the lack of visibility (signage) on livestock transporters carrying live animals for export through eh port of Ramsgate, Kent.  Our report was titled “Now you see it, now you don’t” and was clear proof that live animal transporters were using ‘deceptive behaviour’ (words of the EU DG) to get round the fact of identifying that they were carrying live animals in their vehicles.

Despite what Mr. Van Goethem declares in his final sentences regarding this issue being the responsibility of the UK member state; the UK being the location of the export vehicles; we have had no response or clarification from UK authorities (ie. Defra / Animal Health AHVLA) that they have taken ANY action against these same hauliers; despite the sealed ‘box trailers’ to which we provide evidence for in our report still being used for the export of live animals out of Ramsgate port.

The following is a copy link of the front page of our report.  For obvious reasons we are not publishing the content as this is an on going issue with the EU.

 Front Page

Finally, we question the statement made by Mr. Van Goethem (3^rd para) that limiting animal transport to 8 hours for example would ‘improve animal welfare’.  We know that a reduction to 8 hours would vastly improve animal welfare; but the basic fact is that regarding enforcement of the regulations such as identified in our report of lack of signage, we CANNOT RELY on so-called ‘competent authorities’ such as Defra /AHVLA to ensure that all the requirements of Regulation 1/2005 are being adhered to by export hauliers.

In the UK, Defra / AHVLA are ignoring some of their responsibilities to ensure that issues such as clear signage are complied with on box type trailers.  If national ‘competent authorities’ are so incompetent; how can we rely on them to ensure that animal welfare standards re met in Europe given the current regulations ?

We will continue to push for an 8 hour maximum journey time despite what EU DG says; and we are forwarding this information to our friends and campaigners at Ramsgate port to ask that they pay particular attention to the signage; or rather the complete lack of; on the sealed box trailers as still seen using the port for the live export of UK animals on a weekly basis. 

We trust that Ramsgate campaigners will take particular note of ‘box trailer’ signage situation (or most probably the lack of signage) and that they will as a result report discrepancies to UK competent authorities; stating as necessary the evidence previously provided in our report “Now you see it, now you don’t”.

UK competent authorities need to take action on the issue of signage; something which it is clear they are NOT doing at this present time; or have ever done in the past.

Box trailers containing live animals, and with a clear lack of signage indicating such can be seen in the following very recent footage taken at the port of Ramsgate, Kent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXIb7-ovmCY

Note that the trailer shown in the following contains hundreds of live sheep. 

Where is the signage to indicate this ? – ask UK so called ‘competent authorities’ why they are ignoring the requirements of Regulation 1/2005 and the declarations made by Mr. Van Goethem at EU DG for Health and Consumers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B2xVARRerw

Watch the latest Ramsgate (Kent) live export protests via the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eYnS_DZuC8  

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