January 5, 2007

Tighter rules for carrying live animals in EU start January 5

The European Union's tighter rules for transporting live animals will come into effect Friday (Jan 5), the European Commission said Thursday.

The regulations aim to "reduce the stress and harm that animals can experience during land and sea journeys," EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection Markos Kyprianou said.

Under the new rules, vehicles that transport animals for eight hours or more will have to be upgraded and approved to ensure that they carry technology to make sure the climate in the vehicle adapted for the well-being of the animals. The rules also prohibit female animals within one week of giving birth from being transported at all.

The EU will also force companies which transport live animals in the EU to equip their vehicles with a satellite navigation system. The commission said this will allow authorities to better ensure that rules on travel and rest times are being followed. Older trucks already in use have until 2009 to install the equipment.