Today Eyes on Animals met with a transport-inspector, the contact person for animal-welfare during transport and the contact person for follow-up checks on livestock transports from the NVWA. The purpose today was to discuss the need for better control of exports heading to third-countries that do not respect the rest times for the animals or the drivers hours, the importance of visual inspection and quick access to adequately feed and water as well as help animals in need during the journey, and the on-going problems with the transport of young animals and poultry. We were really disappointed to hear that the NVWA feels compelled to accept closed- vehicles, and may even accept camera-surveillance as adequate “visual inspection” during the journey. We feel strongly that trampled animals cannot be seen via video surveillance, and that animals need to be given water and feed individually when on long distances, something that you cannot guarantee with just the automatic drink nipples inside the vehicle. Nevertheless, we were happy to hear that they are strengthening their checks on certains routes that we also feel need priority, and that now the EU court has made the clear decision that the EC 1/2005 regulations apply also once the EU transporters exit the EU, they will brainstorm as to how to enforce this.
We would like to thank them for their time and look forward to our next meeting to share information and ideas.
