Animal welfare: Implementation of EU Welfare in transport Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 - Main requirements
This is a summary of the main requirements. You should read this along with Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 (PDF 25 MB - Warning: this is a very large file) on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives.
- Exemptions from Regulation
- Animals that cannot be transported
- Transporter requirements for journeys up to 65KM
- Transporter authorisation for journeys over 65km and under 8 hours
- Transporter authorisation for journeys over 8 hours
- Training and competence for drivers and attendants and assembly centre personnel
- Specific requirements for horses
- The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 (PDF).
Exemptions from Regulation
The Regulation does not apply to the transport of animals:
- Where the transport is not in connection with an economic activity; or
- Transport to or from veterinary practices or clinics under veterinary advice; or
- When the animal is an individual animal, is accompanied by its owner or other responsible person and is fit for the intended journey; or
- Where the animals are pet animals accompanied by their owner on a journey.
Animals that cannot be transported
- Unfit animals
See Annex 1 Chapter 1 of Council Regulation 1/2005 (PDF 135 KB) - Very young animals
except if the journey is less than 100 km, e.g. calves of less than 10 days of age, pigs of less than three weeks and lambs of less than one week - Calves of less than 14 days of age
on journeys exceeding 8 hours will not be permitted - Pregnant female animals
will not be considered fit for transport if they have reached the latest stage of gestation (within 10% of the estimated time of the gestation before birth) and for a period of one week after giving birth - Cats and dogs under 8 weeks of age
may not be transported commercially, unless accompanied by their mother
Transporter requirements for journeys up to 65KM
Transporters are not required to have vehicle authorisation or training and certificates of competence. However, they must comply with the technical rules on fitness to travel, means of transport and transport practices. See Annex 1 of Council Regulation 1/2005 (PDF 135 KB).
Transporter authorisation for journeys over 65 km and under 8 hours
Authorisation will be granted, and will be valid for 5 years, if transporters can comply with the following:
- The transporter has an established business or, in the case of businesses established outside of the UK, is represented in the country
- The transporter can demonstrate that they have appropriate staff, equipment and operational procedures to transport animals in compliance with the new Regulation
- The transporter has no record of serious infringements of animal welfare legislation in the 3 years preceding application
Transporter authorisation for journeys over 8 hours
The authorisation will be valid for 5 years. Authorisation will be granted if transporters can comply with the following:
- The transporter has an established business or, in the case of businesses established outside of the UK, is represented in the country
- The transporter can demonstrate that they have appropriate staff, equipment and operational procedures to transport animals in compliance with the new Regulation
- The transporter has no record of serious infringements of animal welfare legislation in the 3 years preceding application
- The transporter must provide:
- valid certificates of approval vehicles and containers
- details of procedures enabling transporters to trace and record the movement of road vehicles under their responsibility and to contact the drivers at any time
- contingency plans in the event of emergencies
- from 2008, valid certificates of competence for drivers and attendants
- All new vehicles used for the transport of horses (except registered horses) or farmed animals have a satellite navigation system. This requirement will apply to all vehicles (old and new) used for the transport of horses (except registered horses) or farmed animals from 2009
Training and competence for drivers and attendants and assembly centre personnel
Drivers or attendants responsible for the transport of farmed animals, horses and poultry over 65km will be required to hold a certificate of competence by 5 January 2008.
Assembly centre staff will not be required to obtain a certificate of competence but will need to have undergone training.
The training courses will cover the technical and administrative aspects of the rules and regulations that apply to the protection of animals during transport. These include:
- general conditions of transporting animals
- the documents that are required
- fitness for transport
- journey planning
- animal physiology and feed needs, animal behaviour and the concept of stress
- practical aspects of handling animals
- impact of driving behaviour on welfare of animals and on the quality of meat
- emergency care for animals
- safety of personnel handling animals
The certificate of competence will be awarded once an independent assessment of knowledge of the above has been made.
Specific requirements for the transport of horses
- Horses must be transported in single partitions on journeys longer than 8 hours, or when transported in a vehicle on a roll-on roll-off ferry (other than a mare and foal)
- A minimum space above the withers must be given
- Unbroken ponies may not be transported in groups of more than four and cannot be transported on journeys longer than 8 hours by road
- Foals under 4 months must have appropriate bedding and (unless with their mother) may not be transported for longer than 8 hours by road
Page last modified: 13 June, 2008