Q: Harald Vilimsky (ID, AT) – Animal transport during the coronavirus crisis (30-03-2020)

The current coronavirus crisis has led to a worsening of the situation for the transport of animals across borders.

1. Is it true that the Commission has lifted the requirement for official veterinarians to be present at border crossing points?

2. What other stipulations have been relaxed by the Commission?

3. As it is not possible for animals to be adequately looked after when crossing borders, and since they suffer undue hardship and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 and its basic principles cannot be complied with, animal transport should be stopped immediately, as set out in the Regulation. Why has the Commission not considered stopping animal transport for the reasons set out above?

A: Commissioner Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

The Commission has not lifted the requirement for official veterinarians to be present at border control posts.

In order to protect public and animal health and, at the same time, the functioning of the internal market, the Commission adopted an Implementing Regulation allowing Member States to perform official controls and other official activities in accordance with temporary measures to contain risks, including animal welfare, during the COVID-19 period [1], while EU legislation, including on animal welfare, remains fully applicable.

Besides ensuring food supply, the Commission adopted guidelines for border management measures to protect health and ensure the availability of goods and essential services [2]. In this context, ‘green lanes’, have been established, to speed up the movement of all freight vehicles, including transport of livestock [3].

The Commission does not envisage stopping the transport of livestock, which constitutes an essential part of the food supply chain especially in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. The legislation on welfare of animals during transport shall be observed. The Commission is working closely with the Member States to ensure compliance with the regulations on official controls [4] and animal welfare at transport [5] and, at the same time, ensure food supply in this exceptional crisis.

The Farm to Fork Strategy [6] also addresses animal welfare issues and will initiate actions, where necessary, including on animal transport.

[1] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466 of 30 March 2020 on temporary measures to contain risks to human, animal and plant health and animal welfare during certain serious disruptions of Member States’ control systems due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) C/2020/2049 (OJ L 98, 31.3.2020, p. 30).

[2] C (2020) 1753 final.

[3] C (2020) 1897 final.

[4] Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation) (OJ L 95, 7.4.2017, p. 1).

[5] 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).

[6] COM(2020) 381 final.