49 Amendments of Tiziana BEGHIN related to 2018/2110(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Deplores the woeful lack of rigour displayed by the Commission in pursuing serious and systematic infringements of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 directly brought to its attention in almost 200 specific and detailed NGO reports forwarded to it since 2007;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Draws attention to the multitude of parliamentary questions and letters of complaint submitted by Members of the European Parliament and addressed to the Commission, highlighting the systematic infringements of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 which result in severe suffering and hardship for animals during transport; strongly criticises the statistics provided by the Commission on compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 as regards the transport of live animals to third countries, which have been drawn up without any systematic checks on animal transport vehicles;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Points out that the most frequent infringements of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 concern the insufficient space given to animals in transport vehicles and overcrowding, the failure to respect drinking and feeding intervals and journey times and resting periods for animals, the inadequacy of ventilation and watering devices, transport in extreme temperatures, transport of unsuitable animals and insufficiency of bedding and feed;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Notes with great concern that during long journeys animals are watered with contaminated water that is unfit for consumption and often have no access to water because of malfunctioning or badly located watering devices, or insufficient water that is not commensurate with the species and size of the animals being transported;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that Regulation 1/20051 hasmay hadve a positive impact on the welfare of animals during transport; welcomes and takes note of the Commission's guidelines on the subject, but notes that severe problems still persist; observes that enforcement of ; highlights, however, that severe and widespread problems still persist withe regulation would appear to be the primary concern of those involved in its implementationard to its proper enforcement;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that the reported infringements of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 concerning inadequate ventilation systems in animal transport vehicles for long journeys attest the presence of extreme temperatures inside the vehicles, far exceeding the legal limits, causing terrible suffering to the animals; points out that, in some cases, the sensors monitoring the temperatures inside the animal transport vehicles have been found to have been tampered with; calls on the competent authorities to refrain from approving a journey log when temperatures in the places of departure or destination, or along the route, are forecast to exceed 30°C;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for Member States, when detecting infringements of the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, to provide the notifications laid down in Article 26 in a detailed and systematic manner; calls on the Member States receiving such notifications to act effectively and in a consistent and timely manner to prevent the repetition of such infringements; takes the view that, where feasible, the competent authorities of the Member States should attach to the notifications photos of the relevant infringements;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the most common breaches of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 are caused by overcrowding, insufficient headroom, failure to provide the required stops for rest, food and water, inadequate ventilation and watering devices, transport in extreme heat, transport of unfit animals and insufficient bedding;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Takes the view that the shortcomings in the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 are a clear example of the need to put greater efforts into preventing serious incidents that have a significant impact on animal welfare and prosecuting those who infringe the law;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Regrets that, in breach of the provisions of Annex I, Chapter II, point 1.2 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, during transport, animals are given insufficient space, forcing them to stand in unnatural positions for long periods of time and with inadequate ventilation;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Is of the opinion that where Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 stipulates that animals should be unloaded at a control post, before approving a journey log the competent authorities should verify, and receive confirmation, that the organiser has made a reservation at the control post;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Calls on the competent authorities of the Member States to carry out systematic inspections on intra-EU consignments of animals and on all consignments destined for third countries upon loading; stresses that, at the time of loading, the competent authorities should check that the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 concerning the health conditions of animals and the space and height of the compartment have been complied with, that ventilation and water systems work properly and are appropriate for the size and species transported, and that sufficient feed and bedding are transported;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Takes the view that the competent authorities, in cases in which Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 requires that animals be unloaded for a 24-hour rest in a third country, should only approve journey logs if they can establish whether the organiser has found a place for such a rest that provides facilities equivalent to those of a control post and, in any case, that is able to respect the welfare of the animals in full; calls for official veterinarians at EU exit points to check whether the vehicles provide enough space for animals, and that there is no overcrowding, that sufficient bedding, water and feed is provided and that the ventilation and watering devices work properly;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Deplores the lack of rigour displayed by the Commission in pursuing the systematic infringements of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 which are explained in detail in the 200 or so reports sent to it by non-governmental organisations since 2007;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Recalls the numerous parliamentary questions, letters and complaints sent by Members of the European Parliament to the Commission, highlighting the systematic infringements of the regulation and condemning the unacceptable conditions of stress, pain, anguish and suffering of live animals transported within the Union and to third countries;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates its call for the transport time of animals destined for slaughter and fattening to be limited to eight hours, with due consideration for loading and unloading times, and waiting times at borders; takes the view that many of the severe problems related to the lengthy transport of live animals, in particular from the EU to third countries, would be solved by a shift to the transport of meat or carcasses;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Strongly criticises the statistics drawn up by the Commission on compliance with the regulation as regards the journeys made to transport live animals to third countries and stresses that they have been drawn up without any systematic checks on animal transport vehicles;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1e. Welcomes Special Report No 31/20181 a of the European Court of Auditors, which clearly identifies compliance with legislation on long- distance transport of live animals and the transport of unfit animals as issues that have not yet been resolved; _________________ 1a Report No 31/2018 of the European Court of Auditors: ‘Animal welfare in the EU: closing the gap between ambitious goals and practical implementation’.
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Strongly deplores the uneven and poor enforcement of the regulation in many Member States, which are failing to effectively and uniformly monitor and sanction persistent violations of EU law, thereby allowing some transporters to operate illegally; greatly concerned at the failure of many Member States to make proper and effective use of the powers conferred on them under Article 26 of Regulation No 1/2005, including the power to call on the transporter in question to introduce arrangements to avoid any recurrence of the irregularities detected, carry out additional inspections and, in particular, require the presence of a veterinarian when the animals are being loaded and suspend or revoke the transporter's permit or the type-approval certificate for the form of transport used; calls on the Commission, in view of the lack of harmonisation of controls and sanctions across the Member States, to consider revising the current provisions in order to ensure that effective and dissuasive sanctioning mechanisms are uniformly introduced and imposed across the EU;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1f. Expresses concern over journeys in which animals are watered with contaminated water that is unfit for consumption and journeys in which animals are deprived of access to water because of malfunctioning or badly located watering devices; stresses that vehicles used for the transport of live animals should ensure that sufficient water is supplied during journeys, and in any case, the amount supplied should be appropriate for the specific requirements of the animals being transported and for the number of those animals;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 g (new)
Paragraph 1 g (new)
1g. Stresses that infringements are often due to the inadequacy of the ventilation systems of vehicles used for the road transport of live animals over long distances; points out that in these situations, animals are forced into small spaces which have extreme temperatures, well beyond the range of temperatures and tolerance limits set out in the regulation;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that ineffective coordination between the authorities at border inspection posts, coupled with the inadequacy of operational structures and procedures have led to unjustified waiting times for animal transport vehicles which, given the extreme internal temperatures and lack of ventilation, have had a devastating impact on animal welfare, in clear violation of the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 h (new)
Paragraph 1 h (new)
1h. Is concerned about cases in which tampering with temperature control sensors inside vehicles used for the transport of live animals has been detected, and calls on the competent authorities not to approve journey logs when temperatures in the places of departure and destination, or during the journey, are forecast to be higher than 30 °C;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 i (new)
Paragraph 1 i (new)
1i. Regrets that compartments for animals do not always provide sufficient space to ensure there is adequate ventilation inside vehicles used for the transport of live animals and that natural movements for animals are prevented in all circumstances in which animals are forced to take up unnatural positions for long periods, in clear violation of the technical rules set out in Article 6 and Annex I, Chapter II, point 1.2 of the regulation;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 j (new)
Paragraph 1 j (new)
1j. Regrets the infringements of the regulation that concern the failure to properly apply the rules concerning unweaned animals, such as calves, lambs, kids and foals which are still on a milk diet, and unweaned piglets, and calls for the introduction of more detailed measures to ensure that the welfare of these animals is fully protected when they are being transported;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for consistent and full compliance with the case law established by the EU Court of Justice, Including Case C-424/13 of 23 April 2015, in which the Court ruled that, for the transport of animals involving a long journey commencing in EU territory and continuing outside it to be authorised at the place of departure, the transporter shall be required to submit a true and accurate travel log for the purpose of verifying compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 in the territory of the EU and of the third countries in question; if this is not the case, the authorities responsible shall be empowered to require modification of the transport arrangements to ensure compliance with the Regulation for the duration of the journey;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes that the Commission, while aware of the fact that certain Member States are failing to report cases where the internal temperatures of vehicles used for animal transport exceed 35°C, has officially stated that it does not perform systematic checks on internal vehicle temperatures, making it impossible obtain an accurate picture of animal transport conditions;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists thatCalls for the transport time of animals destined for slaughter and fattening to be limited to eight hours, taking account of transport conditions and loading time, irrespective of whether this takes place on land or at sea;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Considers it of the utmost importance that the authorities issuing type-approval certificates for animal transport vessels adhere consistently and in full to Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005; calls for the competent authorities to scrupulously and systematically inspect animal transport vessels prior to loading to ensure that they are suitable for the type and number of animals to be transported and provide all necessary guarantees to ensure their welfare;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Expresses its serious concern about failure by the authorities to comply with their obligation to inspect the animals prior to loading to ensure that they are fit to continue their journey on the transport vessel; considers that the authorities must not approve travel logs if they indicate the use of ports that do not have the necessary facilities for systematic inspection of the animals;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Deeply regrets that the loading of animals onto ships frequently involves great cruelty such as the use of electric sticks and prods, as well as loading facilities that fail to provide full guarantees regarding animal welfare.
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 e (new)
Paragraph 7 e (new)
7e. Believes that the presence of qualified and independent veterinarians should be mandatory during the transport of animals by ship, that the deaths of any animals en route should be reported and registered and that specific and detailed action plans should be drawn up to deal with any emergencies that adversely affecting the animals' wellbeing;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 f (new)
Paragraph 7 f (new)
7f. Expresses its concern at non- compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 regarding the transport of unweaned animals; considers it necessary to adopt more detailed and incisive measures to ensure that all specific needs regarding this type of transport are met;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Urges the Member States to check a proportion of transports at loading, including all loadings to destinations in non-EU countries, as it is at loading that many problems can be detected and remedied before the start of the journey;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 g (new)
Paragraph 7 g (new)
7g. Deplores the failure to set up a European Parliament committee of inquiry into the wellbeing of animals during transport inside and outside the EU, as requested by 223 MEPs, the decision having been taken without plenary vote in Parliament, thus infringing the basic principles of democracy, openness and transparency that regarding EU decision-making processes;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Deplores the often lengthy delays at borders and the increased pain and distress for animals that they cause; calls on the Member States and the Commission to improve this situation; which, for the live animals transported involve stress, pain and distress which should be avoided; calls on the Member States and the Commission to resolve the issue of delays by improving coordination and cooperation between the authorities responsible for implementing the regulation; calls on the competent authorities not to approve journey logs for exports to Turkey until facilities are built on the Turkish side of the border where, in the event of delays, animals can be unloaded and provided with food, water, rest and veterinary care;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Takes the view that, in cases in which the regulation stipulates that animals should be unloaded at a control post, before approving a journey log the competent authorities should ascertain that the organiser has made a reservation at the control post;
Amendment 80 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Calls on the Member States to make a full use of the enforcement measures foreseen by Article 26 the Regulation, according to which the competent authorities shall require a transporter to establish systems to prevent the recurrence of observed breaches, subject a transporter to additional checks, in particular requiring the presence of a veterinarian at loading of the animals, suspend or withdraw the authorisation of the transporter or the certificate of approval of the means of transport concerned in case of infringements;
Amendment 88 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. StresseRegrets that the total number of checks carried out by national competent authorities pursuant to Regulation 1/2005 has fallen, despite the number of consignments in the EU containing live animals having increased; calls on the Member States to ensure adequatesystematic and widespread controls for live animal transport;
Amendment 97 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 98 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Takes the view that, in those cases in which the regulation stipulates that animals should be unloaded for a 24-hour rest period in a third country, the competent authorities should only be able to approve journey logs where it can be ascertained that the organiser has found a place for such a rest period, equipped with facilities equivalent to those of a control post and which, in any case, are able to ensure the welfare of the animals;
Amendment 101 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls for the competent authorities of the Member States to ensure that official veterinarians are present at Union exit points, having the task of checking that vehicles used to transport animals contain compartments with sufficient space to avoid overcrowding, that there is bedding, feed and water in amounts that are appropriate for the species and number of animals being transported and that the ventilation and fresh water systems for the animals work properly;
Amendment 105 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Commission and the Member States to offer incentives to farmers to slaughter their animals at the nearest slaughter facility in order to prevent lengthy animal transportation times which cause unnecessary levels of stress, pain, anguish and suffering which have a substantial impact on the welfare of the live animals transported; calls on the Commission to present innovative solutions in this regard;
Amendment 120 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recognises that many livestock vessesels used to transport live animals should not have been approved as they are ntot ally unfit to carry animalsthem; calls on the Member States not to approve or renew the approval of livestockuthorise the transport of live animals on vessels thatwhich do not meet the requirements of Regulation 1/2005; and not to renew such authorisation;
Amendment 125 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Is concerned about the infringements of the regulation caused by the failure to carry out inspections, or the carrying out of perfunctory inspections, prior to the loading of live animals onto vessels transporting livestock by sea, and by the loading of animals onto vessels using cruel instruments and practices such as the use of sticks and electric prods, or through the use of loading facilities that are unsuitable for the movement of animals;
Amendment 130 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Considers it necessary to make it compulsory for veterinarians to be present on board ships used for the transport of livestock by sea, to report and keep count of the number of animals that die during sea journeys and to draw up emergency plans to deal with any situations at sea that might have a negative impact on the welfare of the animals being transported;
Amendment 132 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Deplores the failure to set up a European Parliament committee of inquiry into the transport of live animals within Union territory and to third countries, as requested by 223 MEPs; regrets that this request was not put to the vote by the European Parliament in plenary and that the principles of democracy, publicity and transparency – which should always inform the work of the EU institutions and, in this case, the European Parliament’s internal decision- making processes – have therefore been disregarded;