EU Commission fails to act on animal welfare

The European Commission has failed to hear the concerns of hundreds of North East campaigners for animal welfare by refusing to come forward with new rules on the transport of live animals.
That's the message from Stephen Hughes following the long awaited review of EU legislation concluded that changes will not be proposed to the EU regulation covering the transport of live animals.
Campaigners had been calling for the Commission to propose changes that would put an end to the suffering of animals caused by very long journeys across Europe by limiting journeys for fattening or slaughter to eight hours.
However, the European Commission review concluded that while more needs to be done to enforce existing rules, new legislation will not be brought forward.  Commissioner Dalli replied to Stephen Hughes on this matter (letter attached).
Stephen Hughes, Labour MEP for the North East,  said: "It is disappointing that the European Commission has not heard the concerns of my constituents and come forward with plans to impose an eight hour limit on the transport of live animals.
"The vast majority of animals are slaughtered near to where they are reared. That is clearly preferable to forcing them to endure many hours under stressful conditions in a lorry.
"The Commission is right to say that more should be done to enforce existing rules, but they should also be proposing an end to the suffering caused by these incredibly long and inhumane journeys."
ENDS
NOTES
More information about the campaign for an eight hour limit to animal transport can be found at: http://www.8hours.eu/