BETA

Activities of Sylvia LIMMER related to 2020/2269(INI)

Plenary speeches (1)

Protection of animals during transport - Protection of animals during transport (Recommendation) (debate)
2022/01/20
Dossiers: 2020/2269(INI)

Amendments (89)

Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
— having regard to Article 13 of the TFEU, which stipulates that, in formulating and implementing the Union’s policies, the Union and the Member States shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals,
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
— having regard to the resolution of 12 December 2012 on the protection of animals during transport,
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
— having regard to Declaration No 49/2011 of 30 November 2011 on the establishment of a maximum 8-hour journey limit for animals transported in the European Union for the purpose of being slaughtered,
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas Article 13 of the TFEU states that ‘in formulating and implementing the Union’s agriculture, fisheries, transport, internal market, research and technological development and space policies, the Union and the Member States shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals, while respecting the legislative or administrative provisions and customs of the Member States relating in particular to religious rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage’the Union and the Member States firmly believe that animals are sentient beings with special needs that should be taken into account in accordance with Article 13 of the TFEU;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas, therefore, the Commission and the Member States should commit to defending the strict application of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, not only within the Union but also outside it;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas a number of reasons exist for the movement of live animals, including marketing, fattening, slaughter, rearing and breeding;deleted
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
J. whereas every year millions of animals are transported over long distances within and between Member States and to third countries;deleted
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas every year millions of live animals are transported within Member States and to third countries over long distances for breeding, rearing, further fattening and slaughter;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Jb. whereas EU citizens are increasingly keen to see compliance with animal welfare standards, especially in live animal transports;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J c (new)
Jc. whereas, on 21 September 2017, the Commission received over one million signatures in support of the #StopTheTrucks campaign, in which EU citizens call for an end to long-distance transport;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J d (new)
Jd. whereas slaughtering animals closer to their breeding place can improve animal welfare by limiting journey times;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J e (new)
Je. whereas the disappearance of local slaughterhouses, which is a factor in longer journey times, is an issue that the Union and the Member States must address;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J f (new)
Jf. whereas ‘regional’ specialisation, which involves piglets or calves bred in one country being transported for fattening in another country, increases long-distance transport and therefore animal suffering;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J g (new)
Jg. whereas, during transport, all too often: - animals lack food and water; - animals are not given the correct rest breaks; - transport vehicles are overloaded; - transport vehicles are too hot and insufficiently ventilated; - unfit or unweaned animals are transported; - transport vehicles do not provide sufficient headroom;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J h (new)
Jh. whereas transporting meat and genetic material is technically easier and more animal welfare friendly than transporting live animals;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas the Commission must ensure that all Member States correctly apply EU legislation on animal transport, not only to ensure animal welfare but also to avoid unfair competition;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)
Kb. whereas strict checks on animal transport from third countries can reduce unfair competition at the expense of EU producers and encourage third countries to improve their animal transport standards;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K c (new)
Kc. whereas animal transport, especially over long distances, is a factor in greenhouse gas emissions;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K d (new)
Kd. whereas animal transport over long distances and under poor hygiene conditions increases the risk of transmitting and spreading disease;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K e (new)
Ke. whereas complying with animal welfare principles improves the quality of meat products;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls, in this respect, that Article 1(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 allows Member States to adopt stricter national measures aimed at improving the welfare of animals during transport taking place entirely within their territory or during sea transport departing from their territory;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasises the need for comprehensive and uniform inspection of compliance with transport conditions to prevent animal dumping within the Union;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Emphasises the need for a harmonised EU sanctions system in order to ensure that sanctions are effective, proportionate and dissuasive, and that they take account of repeat offences, even where committed in different Member States;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notes that less economically valuable animals suffer from worse transport conditions, whereas more economically valuable animals, such as breeding animals in the equine sector, benefit from better transport conditions;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Acknowledges that neither the Regulation 1/2005 nor further actions taken so far solved the frequent and inacceptable problems and infringements to Regulation and in consequence the principle to transport live animals to be slaughtered has to be questioned; considers that the Enforcement of Regulation 1/2005 is the core of the problem and that it appears unsolvable to ensure animal welfare while maintaining long distance transport of live animals;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that the most frequently documented violations are linked to the lack of headroom, animals being unfit for transport, overcrowding, transport during extreme temperatures and journey durationcommon violations of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 are linked to: - overcrowding; - animals being unfit for transport; - transport of unweaned or pregnant animals; - insufficient headroom; - insufficient rest breaks; - insufficient feeding, watering and ventilation; - extreme temperatures;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Notes that the technical means needed to clearly establish the stage of gestation of pregnant females are not always used;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Notes the need to improve the transport of species that are not adequately covered by Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, such as poultry and rabbits, as well as fish and shellfish;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Notes the need to improve: - the checking of journey logs; - the application and proportionality of sanctions; - the training of drivers and companies; - the certification process for means of transport by road and livestock vessels, so that means of transport that cannot offer good transport conditions are refused certification;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10d. Points out that animal welfare during transport could be better ensured by recording and checking data in real time via GPS, video surveillance and other technologies;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Local slaughterhouses, mobile slaughterhouses and slaughter systems
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Notes that slaughtering animals and processing meat close to the breeding place not only contribute to animal welfare but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Regrets the significant economic challenges faced by small local slaughterhouses; regrets, in particular, that slaughterhouses are being restructured and their number reduced;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)
16d. Notes that the disappearance of local slaughterhouses, which is a factor in longer journey times, is an issue that the Union and the Member States must address; stresses the importance of setting up funding mechanisms to ensure the development and economic viability of local slaughterhouses;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 e (new)
16e. Deems it necessary to support the development of on-farm slaughter, using mobile slaughterhouses, in order to remove the need to transport live animals wherever possible;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 f (new)
16f. Calls for all animals to be stunned before slaughter, without exception;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 h (new)
16h. Stresses the need to stop all imports of animals that have not been slaughtered in accordance with European animal welfare standards;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 i (new)
16i. Regrets the fact that slaughterhouse workers still do not receive sufficient vocational training to reduce the suffering of animals; regrets, furthermore, the relentless pace demanded of slaughterhouse workers, which sometimes endangers their health and causes additional animal suffering;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Notes that, where companies infringe the rules on the transport of live animals, this results in unfair competition; calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop a procedure to quickly withdraw the licences of such companies;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 364 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Calls on the Commission to provide better guidance to Member States on how the integrated computerised veterinary system (TRACES) can help them to better target their inspections;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)
33b. Calls for public access to the information collected through TRACES;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 383 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Notes that effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions for serious and repeated offences could include confiscation of vehicles, suspension or withdrawal of a transporter’s licence, and additional mandatory training for those individuals responsible for animal welfare and transport;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 386 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 b (new)
37b. Calls on the Commission to collate and publish a list of operators having committed serious and repeated infringements of the regulation, based on inspection and enforcement reports;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 387 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Recognises the difficulties for competent authorities in performing checks and in collecting data, particularly on end- of-the journey log information and satellite navigation system data, which create difficulties when assessing journeys and performing retrospective checks, as well as for imposing sanctions on transporters from other Member States; recognises that this is due in part to the current system of paper journey logs and the lack of agreed standards for satellite navigation systems; calls for greater cooperation in developing technologies that can monitor the location of animals, their journey times and compliance with transport schedules;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Recalls the 2015 judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Case C-424/13, which states that, in order for transport involving a long journey which commences on the territory of the European Union and continues outside that territory to be authorised, the transporter must submit a journey log which is realistic and accurate, so that compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 can be verified;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 398 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 b (new)
39b. Stresses that the contingency plans required under Article 11(1)(b)(iv) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 for long journeys, which enable the transporter to limit the impact on the animals of any delay or accident, must be effective, realistic and extended to all journeys;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 399 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 c (new)
39c. Stresses that the competent authorities of the Member States must ensure that journey logs for long-distance transport contain evidence of a reservation at a control post, including food, water and fresh bedding;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 400 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 d (new)
39d. Whistleblowers
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 e (new)
39e. Stresses the need to grant special protection to individuals working in the transport sector or veterinary checks when they observe and report infringements of the animal protection legislation during their work;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 402 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 f (new)
39f. Stresses, too, the need to grant protection to individuals working in the slaughter industry when they observe and report infringements of animal protection legislation during their work;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 413 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40a. Recalls that recital 5 of the Regulation states that ‘for reasons of animal welfare the transport of animals over long journeys … should be limited as far as possible’;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 415 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 b (new)
40b. Recalls that Parliament, in its resolution of 12 December 2012, called for journey times of animals intended for slaughter to be reduced to a maximum of eight hours;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 416 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 c (new)
40c. Agrees that journey times of animals intended for slaughter and fattening should be limited to a maximum of eight hours, except for poultry and rabbits, for which journey times should be limited to four hours;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 417 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 d (new)
40d. Regrets that Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 regards journeys at sea as rest periods; takes the opposite view that current sea transport conditions do not allow animals to rest properly; calls for the transport of animals by sea to have a maximum permitted duration, given how difficult – even impossible – it is for animals to rest during journeys at sea, which can take several weeks;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 438 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43a. Loading and unloading
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 439 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43b. Stresses that loading and unloading operations are particularly problematic in terms of animal welfare; calls on the Member States to carry out systematic and effective inspections before animals are loaded, particularly when loading onto ships;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 440 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 c (new)
43c. Calls for the entire loading and unloading period to be included in the journey time of animals, from the first animal loaded to the last animal unloaded;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 441 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 d (new)
43d. Stresses the need for official veterinarians to be present during the loading of animals, particularly when loading onto ships; emphasises that inspections are particularly necessary in preventing the transport of unfit animals and any mistreatment during loading;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 452 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)
45a. Recalls that Annex I, Chapter II, paragraph 1.2 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 states that animals’ compartments must provide sufficient space to ensure adequate ventilation inside vehicles and not hinder the natural movement of animals;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 454 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 b (new)
45b. Notes that road vehicles for live animals must have ventilation systems suited to the confinement of animals; considers that such ventilation systems are often unsuited to long-distance transport;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 456 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 c (new)
45c. Stresses the need to prohibit animal transport during extreme weather conditions, especially when temperatures at the places of departure or destination or along the route are forecast to exceed 28° C or fall below 0° C, or when the wind is very strong;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 491 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Stresses the need to prohibit the transport of unweaned animals, such as calves that are just 14 days old, because it has been proven that it is impossible to meet the welfare requirements and needs of very young animals during transport;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 494 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 b (new)
48b. Calls for pregnant females that are beyond the first third of the gestation period to be regarded as unfit for transport;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 506 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)
50a. Highlights the special situation of shellfish, such as American and tropical lobsters, which are transported live to Europe by sea or air; notes that the mortality rate during such air transport can range from 2% to 3% for American lobsters and up to 5% to 8% for certain tropical lobsters;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 513 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 b (new)
50b. Stresses that the mortality rate of fish and shellfish imported into Europe must be reduced, as this is a waste in both food and environmental terms;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 515 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 c (new)
50c. Stresses the need to ensure, during the transport of fish and shellfish: - water quality and respect for the fasting period essential to that quality; - the absence of diseases in the fish and shellfish; - the absence of injuries to the fish and shellfish;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 518 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 d (new)
50d. Disease prevention
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 520 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 e (new)
50e. Emphasises that failure to comply with the regulation can result in the occurrence and spread of infectious animal diseases, given that the promiscuity inherent in transport can quickly spread disease;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 522 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 f (new)
50f. Notes that heat and humidity in livestock vessels promote the development of toxic fungi;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 524 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 g (new)
50g. Stresses the need to develop harmonised procedures for approving transport and to take steps to prevent the spread of infectious animal diseases during transport, both within the Union and from third countries;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 546 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)
53a. Stresses the urgent need to strengthen monitoring of compliance with maritime safety standards by livestock vessels, in particular by enforcing the requirements laid down in Articles 20 and 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 550 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 b (new)
53b. Calls on the Member States to be more stringent in their vessel certification procedures;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 551 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 c (new)
53c. Stresses the need to set up a blacklist of vessels unfit for the transport of live animals, so that a vessel prohibited by one Member State or third country cannot be approved by another Member State;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 554 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 d (new)
53d. Transport of live animals in the island and outermost regions
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 564 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54 a (new)
54a. Stresses the need for the Union, in trade negotiations with third countries, to develop tariff and non-tariff barriers geared to the level of compliance with our animal welfare standards in order to reduce unfair competition;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 575 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 a (new)
55a. Stresses that, in practice, animals no longer benefit from the protection afforded by Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 once they leave the Union’s territory; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to prohibit the transport of live animals to third countries whose animal transport, unloading and slaughter standards do not match those of the Union;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 578 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 b (new)
55b. Regrets, in particular, the fact that slaughter in certain third countries to which the EU sends animals entails extreme and prolonged suffering and regularly breaches the international standards on animal welfare; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to prohibit the export of live animals to third countries whose slaughter standards do not match those of the Union;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 580 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 c (new)
55c. Stresses the need for aid granted to third countries to be conditional upon respect for animal welfare in those countries, in terms of rearing, transport and slaughter; stresses, further, that the Union, in trade negotiations with third countries, must promote the same level of protection of animal welfare as in the European Union;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 581 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 d (new)
55d. Regrets the fact that many animals that die at sea are thrown overboard, often after having their ear tags cut off to prevent identification; stresses that exporting Member States should determine how many dead animals are dumped in the Mediterranean and identify those vessels that are responsible;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 582 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 e (new)
55e. Stresses that the border or port Member States, which are responsible for checking road vehicles and vessels heading for third countries, must penalise any infringements of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, in particular the requirements laid down in Articles 20 and 21 of the regulation;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 604 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59 a (new)
59a. Stresses the need to ensure that official veterinarians are present at the Union exit points, especially between Bulgaria and Turkey, in order to guarantee that the animal welfare standards are met, and especially to guarantee feeding, watering and rest periods;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 605 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59 b (new)
59b. Stresses the importance of inspecting all consignments headed for third countries during their loading; considers that the competent authorities of the Member States should particularly check that the provisions on floor area and headroom, good working order of ventilation and watering systems, and availability of food and litter to the animals are met;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 607 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 a (new)
60a. Stresses that the border Member States and third countries are responsible for providing rest areas so that animals can be given the necessary care, with all staff qualified to quickly carry out health and customs checks at the borders; calls on the Commission to set up funding mechanisms so that such facilities can be developed;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 613 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 a (new)
62a. Reiterates the importance of not validating journey logs where it is planned to use, for a 24-hour rest period in a third country, facilities that are not equivalent to those in the Union;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 623 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 a (new)
63a. Alternative strategies
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 630 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 c (new)
63c. Stresses the importance of developing local or mobile slaughterhouses that are economically viable, close to farms and evenly distributed from a geographical perspective;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 634 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 d (new)
63d. Recognises that encouraging short marketing chains and direct sales will reduce long-distance transport;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 636 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 e (new)
63e. Stresses the need for the Union, in trade negotiations with third countries, to negotiate with importing countries so that they reduce their customs duties on meat in order to disincentivise the transport of live animals;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT
Amendment 638 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 f (new)
63f. Stresses the need for the Union and the Member States to fund equipment for exporting meat or carcasses, in particular refrigeration equipment;
2021/07/15
Committee: ANIT