Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his contributions of 13 December 2012, Official Report, columns 529-42, on live animal exports, what steps he could take to intervene in live animal transport to another EU member state if there is (a) evidence of or (b) reasonable grounds to believe that mistreatment of animals is occurring after they leave the UK.
[135853]
Answer
Article 26 of Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 sets out the procedures for the notification of any infringements of the welfare in transport legislation to the relevant competent authority which may have occurred after animals have left the UK. In particular, paragraph 6 permits member states to temporarily suspend the transporter or means of transport, in the case of repeated or serious infringements. The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) have used these powers to suspend the use of a total of 10 vehicles that have been approved and certified in another member state, until such a time as the identified faults have been addressed
In addition, the AHVLA will report any suspected serious breach of the welfare in transport legislation to the relevant local authority with a view to investigation and possible prosecution.