Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations cover the minimum space requirements for (a) poultry, (b) sheep, (c) pigs, (d) cows and (e) other livestock during transportation by (i) rail, (ii) road and (iii) water; and what the minimum requirement is in each case.
Answer
On 5 January 2007, a Regulation on the protection of animals during transport came into force across the European Union (EU), with some elements coming into force in 2008 and 2009.The Regulation applies to all those involved with the transport of live vertebrate animals in connection with an economic activity.Article 3 (general conditions for the means of transport) of Regulation 1/2005 states:"““No person shall transport animals or cause animals to be transported in a way likely to cause injury or undue suffering to them.””"In addition point (g) of Article 3 states:"““Sufficient floor area and height is provided for the animals, appropriate to their size and the intended journey.””"This applies to all animals. This will also cover species that do not have specific space requirements within the Regulation.I have placed details of the minimum requirements for the species named, in the Library.