Transport of Animals : Friends, Families and Travellers

Transport of Animals

Legally correct June 2007, from DEFRA Website

New Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related operations

“No animal shall be transported unless it is fit for the intended journey, and all animals shall be transported in conditions guaranteed not to cause them injury or unnecessary suffering” (Source: Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives)

Introduction

All persons who take animals on a journey, whatever the length, should always apply the following good transport practice:

The journey is properly planned and time is kept to a minimum and the animals are checked and their needs met during the journey
The animals are fit to travel
The vehicle and loading and unloading facilities are designed, constructed and maintained to avoid injury and suffering
Those handling animals are trained or competent in the task and do not use violence or any methods likely to cause unnecessary fear, injury or suffering
Water, feed and rest are given to the animals as needed, and sufficient floor space and height is allowed

Position from 5 January 2007

From 5 January 2007, a new Regulation on the protection of animals during transport applies across the European Union (EU), with some elements coming into force later in 2008 & 2009. This replaces European Directive 91/628. The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 (WATO) and its equivalent in N.Ireland, which implemented the Directive, have been revoked by The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 and parallel legislation in Scotland, Wales and N.Ireland. These implement the EU Regulation in the UK.

The Regulation applies to all those involved with the transport of live vertebrate animals in connection with an economic activity. For example:

livestock and equine hauliers;
farmers; and
commercial pet breeders.

The Regulation also applies to those working at:

markets;
assembly centres; and
slaughterhouses.

The Regulation does not apply to the transport of animals:

where the transport is not in connection with an economic activity;
transport to or from veterinary practices or clinics under veterinary advice; where the animal is an individual animal accompanied by its owner (or other responsible person) and is fit for journey; or
where animals are pet animals accompanied by their owner on a private journey.

Guidance on the new rules

Summary

A summary of the main requirements of the Regulation is available.

Main guidance

Guidance on The Welfare of Animals During Transport Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 (312 KB) on the protection of animals during transport.

Technical and detailed annexes

Part 2 of the guidance (which is referred to in the main guidance) contains technical and detailed annexes exploring in more depth some of the requirements of the Regulations. These are available below:

Fitness to travel

Guidance Fitness to Travel (2A) (113 KB)

Vehicle specifications

Other annexes

Technical rules for control posts (2K) (32 KB)
Training and competence requirements (2L) (44 KB)
Journey logs (2M) (57 KB) including a worked example (2.2 MB. Please note this is a large file)

Transporter authorisation application forms

From 5 January 2007 if you transport animals in connection with an economic activity over 65 km (approx 40 miles) you must have a valid transporter authorisation. The application forms and guidance notes are below:

Journey Logs

From 5 January 2007 anyone exporting farm livestock or unregistered horses is required to complete a Journey Log (WIT 7) (80 KB). This will need to be approved by the relevant Animal Health Divisional Office for the place of departure. The journey log replaces the existing route plan form (ERA 20).

Journey Log Translations

Different versions of the journey log are available, in which section 3 has been translated into French, German, Italian and Spanish. These have been produced to aid completion and return of journey logs. If transporting animals to any of these destinations, please use the appropriate version:

WIT 7 (F); WIT 7 (G); WIT 7 (S) and WIT 7 (I).

Extension sheets

Because some journeys involve a number of rests and transfer points, extension sheets to sections 1 and 4 of the journey log are available and should be used to help record the full journey. If using the extension sheets, these should include the journey log reference number and be returned to the Animal Health Divisional Office in the area the journey is starting, along with your completed journey log.

WIT 7 (S1 ext) and WIT 7 (S4 ext).

Animal Transport Certificates

These are required for journeys of any species of animals over any distance or duration EXCEPT journeys involving involving farm livestock and unregistered horses on export journeys over 8 hours which require a Journey Log instead.

The Animal Transport Certificate is required to inform the following: origin and ownership of animals; place of departure and destination; date and time of departure and expected duration of journey. NB Farmers transporting their own animals in their own means of transport on journeys of up to 50km from their holding are exempt from this requirement.

We refer to the provision of this information as an Animal Transport Certificate (ATC). This is not a new requirement and as previously there is no prescribed format for the information required to be presented. Any other document containing the required information - such as an Animal Movement Licence - may be used, if preferred. For convenience, we have produced an ATC template (15 KB).

Vehicle inspection and approval scheme

From 5 January 2007 vehicles used for transporting farm livestock and horses on long journeys (those in excess of 8 hours) must be inspected and approved by the competent authority of a Member State or a body designated by a Member State. The scheme document (121 KB) and appendix B (161 KB) sets down how that inspection and approval will be carried out in the United Kingdom.

As the competent authority in England we have designated, with effect from 1 December 2006, the following certifying bodies to carry out inspections and provide certification in accordance with the scheme:

Freight Transport Association
Hermes House
St John’s Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN4 9UZ

Tel: 01892 552235
Email: twells.admin@fta.co.uk

EFSIS Agriculture
P O Box 165
Winterhill House
Swondon Drive
Milton Keynes
MK6 1PB

Tel: 0870 241 6787
Email: fabbl@efsis.com

CMI Certification
Hanborough Business Park
Long Hanborough
Oxford
OX29 8SG

Tel: 01993 885610
Email: Jackie.cleaton@cmicertification.com

As the competent authority in Scotland, SEERAD has designated the following as a certifying body:

Scottish Food Quality Certification
Royal Highland Centre
10th Avenue
Ingliston
Edinburgh
EH28 8NF

Tel: 0131 335 6600
Email: info@sfqc.co.uk

Please contact the certifying bodies directly for information on how to get your vehicle(s) approved.

Whilst the Inspection and Approval Scheme is UK-wide, for practical reasons alone, we would suggest contacting an approved body only in the country you (or your company/partnership) is registered or one that is a reasonable distance from you.

If you transport animals overseas you must hold a vehicle approval certificate if any of the EU Member States involved in the journey (transiting or destination) require one.

We have produced guidance that provides information on the Regulation’s requirements for vehicle equipment in terms of ventilation and temperature monitoring equipment (163 KB) .

Training and Competence Certification

From 5 January 2008, transporters or attendants using road vehicles for transporting farm animals, poultry or horses over 65km in connection with an economic activity must have received appropriate training. They must also hold a certificate of competence issued by an independent body nominated by the competent authority. Information of this aspect of the Regulation can be found in chapter 4 of the main guidance document and accompanying guidance document 2L ‘Training and Competence requirements’.

As the competent authority in England we have designated the following independent bodies to undertake this work.

NPTC, Part of the City & Guilds Group
Stoneleigh Park
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG

Tel: 024 7685 7300
Fax: 024 7669 6128
E-mail: information@nptc.org.uk
Web: www.nptc.org.uk

NPTC are designated to provide training and issue certificates of competence for cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, game birds and poultry.

The British Driving Society
Mrs T Styles, Executive Secretary
83 New Road
Helmingham
Stowmarket
Suffolk
IP14 6QA

Tel: 01473 892 001
Fax: 01473 892 005
Email: email@britishdrivingsociety.co.uk
Web: www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk

British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust
Suite 16, Unit 8, Kings Court
Willie Snaith Road
Newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 7SG

Tel: 016 3856 0743
Fax: 016 3866 0932
E-mail: info@bhest.co.uk
Web: www.bhest.co.uk

BDS and BHEST are designated to provide training and issue certificates of competence for the transportation of horses only.

Please contact these bodies directly for further details on training and competence certification.

Friends, Families and Travellers