Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his contribution of 13 December 2012, Official Report, column 529, on live animal exports, under what conditions Article 10 enables him to withdraw the authorisation of a live animal transporter to operate in the UK.
[139177]
Answer
Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005, Article 10 relates to the requirements for transporter authorisation. Before a transporter can become authorised as a transporter of animals in Great Britain, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) will check that the applicant or their representatives have no record of serious infringements of Community and/or national legislation on the protection of animals, in the preceding three years. This provision does not apply where the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of AHVLA that they have taken all necessary measures to avoid further infringements. Where a transporter applies for an authorisation in another member state, it is the responsibility of the Competent Authority in that member state to carry out the necessary checks on the history of the transporter as part of their authorisation process. AHVLA has no power to withdraw an authorisation issued in another member state under Article 10.