July 21, 2010 The VWA stop 7 cattle trucks, four are in violation.
Seven cattle trucks were inspected by the VWA official inspectors in the Amsterdam region. Four of the transporters were in violation of the EC 1/2005 legislation on the protection-of-animals-during-transport (that is 57%). Three of the four did not provide adequate space above the backs of the cattle and as a result several cattle on board had back injuries. These transporters were fined. The fourth transporter did not have an indicator on the back of his vehicle that live animals were on board, resulting in the company receiving a warning.
For the full article (in Dutch only), view here.
March 8 2010 the AID stops 7 livestock trucks to check on animal welfare violations, 2 trucks are fined.
The AID (the Dutch "animal and animal products" police) stopped 7 livestock trucks on the road on March 8th. Two of the livestock carriers were in violation of the EU 1/2005 animal-protection during transport legislation. The Dutch transport company with pigs on board had loaded too many, resulting in the animals being overcrowded. The Irish haulier with calves was in violation because the calves did not have enough head space. The AID is now investigating if the driver kept the calves on board over the maximum journey time- calves coming over by boat from Ireland to the continent must be unloaded immediately upon arriving at the harbour to be given warm milk and rest for 12 hours.
Eyes on Animals is very pleased to see the AID busy conducting such inspections on the road. It is however worrisome that out of 7 inspected livestock trucks, 2 were in violation- that is 28,5%!
For the AID press release about these inspections, please check: http://www.aid.nl/1011.htm
October 2009: The AlD (Algemene Inspectiedienst) is starting to make unannounced inspections of Dutch animal farms to check that the animals are benefiting from the legislation set up to protect their basic welfare.
Eyes on Animals is most impressed with the AID. Recently they inspected a pig farm, unannounced, to check that the pigs' welfare was in agreement with the law. The farmer received two fines; the light was not strong enough and the sows in the crates did not have access to environmental enrichment material (such as a ball dangling from a chain). Although the AID does not have the man-power to inspect all Dutch animal farms, the thought that they could show up anytime at your door will help assure that Dutch farmers pay close attention to the animal welfare legislation.
Unannounced farm inspections is new for the AID, and Eyes on Animals encourages the AID to keep it up and that enough funds are allotted to the AID to do so.
January 2009: The Dutch authorities have finally published a new and tougher animal transport sanctioning system
The Netherlands finally has a new sanctioning system concerning livestock transport. It came into force January 1st, 2009. Now, when transport companies, drivers and organizers do not respect the EU legislation protecting animals during transport, they face high fines and, for "serious" violations, temporary removal of their licence to transport animals. Eyes on Animals is relieved that The Netherlands finally has published a tougher sanctioning system, but it remains to be seen how well it is put into practice and how it is interpreted. Eyes on Animals will continue to monitor animal transports and the effectiveness of this new sanctioning system.
Click here to download the new sanction document (available only in the Dutch language).
*** UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE*** GREAT NEWS: October 21, 2009 the Dutch authorities finally put this new sanctioning system into practice. A Dutch transport company was fined €5000 after trying several times to load cattle onto a double-deck lorry with too litte head room, resulting in the animals risking seriously wounding their backs. This is the first fine handed out.
Read the article (in the Dutch language) by clicking here.
As of January 1, 2009 animals being transported will hopefully
benefit from the tougher Dutch sanctioning system.