Activities of Billy KELLEHER related to 2020/2269(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Protection of animals during transport - Protection of animals during transport (Recommendation) (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the investigation of alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to the protection of animals during transport within and outside the Union
Amendments (18)
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas every year millions of animals are transported over both short and long distances within and between Member States and to third countries;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the value of the intra-EU trade in live animals was EUR 8.6 billion in 2018, with bovine animals, pigs and poultry having the highest values; whereas the export of live animals represents around EUR 1.6 billion and provides around 60 000 direct jobs and 300 000 indirect jobs, especially in rural areand regional economies14 ; _________________ 14 At a Glance – ‘EU trade and transport of live animals’, European Parliament, Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research, Members’ Research Service, 7 February 2020.
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas geographic location should not act as a barrier to the free movement of goods, people and services as guaranteed under the EU Treaties;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that transportpoorly planned transport, especially when reliant on outdated technology and equipment, is stressful for animals and can have a potential impact on their health and welfare;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Concludes that many of the problems in animal transport originate from unclear requirements and the lack of clear definitions in the current regulation, leaving room for uneven application of the rules and for increased risks for animals, and for unfair competition among operators in the sector, leaving companies and Member States which abide by the rules facing unfair competition from those which do not;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that certain Member States adhere to, and in many cases, surpass the requirements deemed necessary under Regulation 01/2005;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the fact that a number of national competent authorities are carrying out scientific research on the impact of transport of live animals;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Acknowledges the letters sent by the Commission, in the framework of the Farm to Fork strategy, asking Member States to ensure immediate and full compliance with EU requirements, including on animal welfare during transport, and expressing its determination to take legal action in the event of systematic non-compliance; noteregrets that no infringements proceedings have been opened by the Commission against any Member State;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that according to Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, the farmer, the driver and transport companies share equal responsibility for assessing whether animals are fit for transport; notes that the most common breaches in this respect concern the transport of pregnant animals, animals more than 90 % of the way through gestation, which sometimes give birth on board, downers (with physiological weakness and/or wounds or a pathological condition), and animals with wounds or prolapses; are issues which the farmers are responsible for as they know the history and status of the animals prior to transport;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Points out with concern that the inspection and certification procedures for livestock vessels are not harmonised and lack mandatory inspection criteria, which is aggravated by the fact that the results of these procedures are not communicated between Member States, leading to the real possibility of a vessel that has been rejected in one Member State being approved in another; notesis deeply concerned that there is evidence that the authorities in some Member States have approved and/or permitted the use of vessels which do not comply with the EU rules on animal welfare;
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Acknowledges the existence, in general, of well-developed national guidelines for the approval of livestock vehicles for road transport, but regrets that they are not always followed during the approval procedures; points out the need for a central EU database with information on all authorised transporters and certificate of competence and where all approved vehicles are registered in the same database and with information on approval details;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Acknowledges that some road transport vehicles are not structurally appropriate and do not guarantee safety and comfort to the transported animals; noteregrets that new and innovative solutions for watering and feeding systems, as well as solutions to better accommodate live animals during long journeys, are still lackinghave not yet been introduced by transporters;
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Notes that the vehicles used for transporting animals inside and outside the Union are often not equipped with air cooling systems; highlights that though air ventilation systems move the air through the animal compartment, the temperature inside the vehicle will nevertheless mainly reflect the external temperature, in particular when the vehicle is stationary; recognises that new and innovative solutions for temperature regulations on vehicles have not been implemented in most cases;
Amendment 371 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Points out that Member States are solely responsible for creating sanction systems, which ultimately leaves each of them to define their own administrative and sanctioning procedures, as well as the level of penalties for infringements in the event of animal welfare violations during transport, thereby resulting in very different systems all across the EU; highlights the challenges with national sanctions of drivers coming from other EU Member States in the case of animal welfare violations;
Amendment 448 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Notes that Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 only contains a general provision on temperature, lacking indications about the temperature-humidity index and about species- and age-specific optimal temperature ranges; regrets that new and innovative solutions for temperature regulations on vehicles are still lacking;
Amendment 486 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Stresses the vulnerability of unweaned animals and that the current minimum age for the transport of calves is too lowshould be reviewed, and subsequently raised if supported by scientific evidence; highlights that, according to various experts and the former sub-group of the EU Animal Platform on Animal Welfare, more scientific evidence is needed to support good practices in the long-distance transport of unweaned animals and that the current provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 are not adapted to the needs of these animals;
Amendment 500 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Recalls that, according to the regulation, watering devices shall function properly and be appropriately designed and positioned for the different categories of animals (size and species) to be watered on board the vehicle; notes that new and innovative solutions for watering and feeding systems are still lacking;
Amendment 574 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Notes that once livestock crosses the EU border, respect for animal welfare standards may be difficult to guarantee, both en route and on arrival, as third countries are not bound by EU legislation; recalls the judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which states that EU welfare rules are binding until the final place of destination in third countries;