Participation in the Focus Group Meeting on Animal Transport in Brussels

On the 24th and 25th of May Eyes on Animals was in Brussels to participate in the Focus Group meeting on the transportation of cattle, poultry and pigs. Our colleague organization TSB|AWF was present at the meeting on the transport of horses. The meetings are an initiative of the European Commission with the aim to develop a “Guide to good practice in animal transport”. As well as Eyes on Animals, animal-transport companies, industry associations and professors of animal welfare were also present. During the meeting we discussed the animal welfare problems we encounter during our transport inspections, such as stress and injuries caused by the poor design of some livestock trucks, crates and containers. In addition, we gave special attention to the welfare- concerns we have during the catching of spent-laying hens and loading of them into small crates and the transport of cattle from the EU to Turkey. We also shared information on several best practices, such as the double tarps for poultry-trucks from the Cuppers Company and the poultry crates with side access-doors from the Dutch company ‘Kunststoffabriek Coevorden’. In October there will be a follow up meeting and the guide will be completed.