While Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations is intended to cover the commercial transport of all live vertebrate animals, most of its provisions relate only to the welfare of certain terrestrial farmed animal species. Despite the stress, suffering and increased risk of injury that animals transported for scientific purposes may experience, there are almost no measures to ensure their welfare.
There is also no data on the transport of animals used for scientific purposes to the EU and within it, except for some very limited information that can be found in EU and Member State statistical reports on the use of animals for scientific purposes.
1. What (statistical) information does the Commission have on the transport of animals used for scientific purposes other than the limited information provided in the aforementioned EU and Member State reports? How does it intend to better monitor, measure and report on the transport of these animals?
2. What (species-specific) requirements on animals used for scientific purposes does the Commission intend to include in the revision of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005?
A: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission
Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 does not require collection of data on transport of animals used for scientific purposes and the Commission is not in possession of this specific statistical information.
In line with the Farm to Fork Strategy, published on 20 May 2020, the Commission is currently carefully assessing policy options to improve welfare of animals during transport, taking into account scientific opinions, provided by European Food Safety Authority, as well as relevant economic and social considerations.
Policy options on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, and possible species-specific requirements will be given due consideration where there is evidence of problems resulting from the current legislative framework. Since this work is still ongoing it is premature to conclude on its outcomes.
[1] Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 OJ L 3, 5.1.2005, p. 1‐44.
[2] COM/2020/381 final.
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