Animal Transport - proposed changes to regulations

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Fri May 26, 2006 7:10 pm

Has anyone seen information on proposed changes to the laws on animal transport? A couple of weeks ago the Scottish Farmer carried an article on the subject which suggested that changes were in the pipeline to bring us in line with the EU which would require anyone transporting animals over I think 40kilometres to have passed tests and have a special licence. No doubt apart from the inconvenience there will be a cost attached to this. I think vehicles would need more stringent regulation too.
This seems very concerning to me as to do anything effective either showing or selling my Dexters involves considerable distances. I am sure I am not alone.

Duncan

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:34 pm

According to the DEFRA website, here is the proposed timetable of events. However, there are the inevitable exceptions; e.g. farmers who transport their own animals in their own vehicles are exempt, provided the journey is under 50k, or if moving from summer pasture to winter pasture.

I was going to copy everything, but there are menus and sub menus and sub-sub menus... so all I can suggest is to go to www.defra.gov.uk and go from there!

However, I did notice that according to DEFRA '...a calf is considered (as in other EU law), to be a bovine animal of six or more months of age'. So what is it called when it's under six months of age...?

Here's the proposed timetable:

5th Jan 2007
Transporters carrying out journeys over 65km and under 8 hours must be authorised by the competent authority.

Transporters carrying out journeys over 8 hours by road must be authorised by the competent authority and have their vehicles or livestock containers inspected and approved according to specific criteria.

All new vehicles used for the transport of horses (except registered horses) or farmed animals on journeys over 8 hours by road will have to be equipped with a satellite navigation system. This will apply to all vehicles from 1 January 2009.

Approval will be required for all livestock vessels (not roll-on roll-off ferries) used to transport horses or farmed animals by sea for distances greater than 10 nautical miles.

All personnel who work at markets or assembly centres will be responsible for the welfare of animals and application of the rules on their premises. Training will be required.

An ‘unfit animal’ will be more tightly defined. It includes very young animals as well as animals that are sick or injured. Training will be required.
Please note that journeys directly to or from a veterinary practice or clinic under the advice of a veterinarian are exempt from this regulation.

From 5th Jan 2008
Drivers and attendants transporting farmed animals, horses and poultry on journeys over 8hours or 65KM (approx. 40 miles) will require a certificate of competence. This will only be issued to the individual if they have received training and undergone an independent assessment.

From Jan 1st 2009
All vehicles used for the transport of horses (except registered horses) or farmed animals on journeys over 8 hours by road will have to be equipped with a satellite navigation system.

Post by **Mark Bowles** » Sat May 27, 2006 10:21 am

When or where will it all end. A constant barage of rules from this almighty power called the EU.
When i was 18, 32 years ago and my first vote, i was asked if we as a country wanted to join the " common market", i voted no.
Thats all we have been able to vote on in all the years since and look where we have ended up.

depressed Mark

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Sat May 27, 2006 4:16 pm

Surely there is a discrepancy between the 8 hours/ 65km. Is this allowing for stock to be walked to their destination?

hazel clarke · Post by **hazel clarke** » Sat May 27, 2006 5:44 pm

Could well be wrong Duncan but seem to think there may be an exemption for "Highlands and Islands". These rules make little sense for anyone in Scotland, any showing I used to do involved at least a three hour journey, so they would certainly stop me now(apart from other reasons). Trips to a local (ha ha) abbatior are at the very least an hour away and likely to be more soon. The "powers that be" certainly don't seem to live in the real world.
Hazel (fast dissappearing under a mountain of paper!)

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Sun May 28, 2006 4:04 pm

I read this forum with great interest and have learnt lots of things that I didn't know. Many things are not relevant as I am in Australia, but much of the general cattle care and dexter breed info is. One thing I am constantly thankful for is that we don't have anywhere near as many problems with bureacracy as you do!! We have lots of rules but they all seem so reasonable compared to yours! 65km in Australia is just a trip down the road to the next town or farm etc. I would never transport my animals less than 65km, it is always further than that to get anywhere! Mind you it doesn't take me 8hrs to go 65km either - thank goodness!! I can't quite get my head around that one! ???

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sun May 28, 2006 5:29 pm

I don't think there is the slightest idea that it will take 8 hours to go 65Km. The expected ruling is that journeys over 65 Kilometre will need a special licence for the driver. For journeys taking over 8 hours then the vehicle will need to meet additional criteria. I am not sure but possibly they will need satnav in vehicle, the vehicle will need inspection and have to meet certain standards - possibly like having tanks for efluent, temperature control, etc. Please do not take this as gospel, I have not been able to find the info on the consultations on the SEERAD site. Maybe it is on the DEFRA site for England
I honestly think it is most improbable they will allow any concessions for Islands. If they do Bute will suddenly not be an island for such purposes due to being only 5 minute journey to the mainland of Argyll, though this means an extra 80 - 100 miles to get anywhere south of the river Clyde.

Duncan

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Mon May 29, 2006 7:50 pm

8 hours, 65 kilometres, sounds like a regular day around the M25 to me.

John C · Post by **John C** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:34 pm

Its simply not going to be feasable to keep my three dexters living where I do !
i've recently told you of my problems over abbatoir closures and how would I go on about purchasing new stock ? We are miles from anywhere .
I have a 4x4 and an ifor williams horse trailer .
I've also got a horse mad daughter . This is seriously going to curtail the horsey people . I can't see these restrictions working !

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Tue May 30, 2006 8:12 am

Fitting lorries with SatNav will be interesting, by the time that bit of legislation comes in I suspect Sat Nav will have been banned for causing more accidents and near misses than speed cameras.

ann · Post by **ann** » Wed May 31, 2006 1:53 pm

Maybe its time the pheasants revolted, out with the goverment, out with the E.U and as Michael Hesaltine said a while ago, for every new law the goveremnt make they must abolish two old ones, then maybe one day we will get back to sanity.

Re Satnav these can be a joke, we have recently had a new peice of the A.I.M upgraded and if you have it switched on when it comes to this piece of road it keeps telling you to turn round and turn left when there is no turn left, so unless the goverment makes a NEW law insisting all roads are fitted with the right equipment for these devises before they are opened, anyone not familar with a new piece of road could become very confused.

John C · Post by **John C** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:45 pm

I know what satnav does, but what is the reasoning behind having to have it to be able to transport cattle ? Can anyone enlighten me ?

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:54 pm

I'm only guessing here, but it's probably so that Big Brother can make sure that you've not exceeded the 65km limit without telling them. I have no experience of satnav; I either use a map or my wife(!), but I would imagine that, in order to check on the distance you've travelled, the 'powers that be' will need access to the tracking device records...?

I hope they see sense before these proposals become law!

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:21 pm

The Satnav means that if the driver dies of exhaustion on the long journey the oldest cow on the lorry can find its way to the destination, even though it has never travelled that road before.

Seriously I presume it is to enable the journey to be completed as easily as possible, sticking to the journey plan which has to be made for over 8 hour journeys. I would think the powers that be may also assume that with these long journeys it is more likely that the driver will be in unfamiliar territory too.

It was only suggested for vehicles doing over 8 hour journeys I think.

Duncan

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:19 am

We regularly transport animals 250km from our place to Auckland (where most New Zealanders live). Thank goodness we don't have your laws here. If we didn't transport the animals ourselves, we'd be hard put trying to find someone to carry them. Most carriers only cows and sheep (not the poultry and pigs which we also sell)and from our neck of the woods, only if you have a reasonable number of cows to transport. They don't like transporting one or two cows. I had to drive 400kms to pick up a ram recently. Then 400kms back. ??? Thankfully I was able to stopover in Auckland for a night.

I think your Government has forgotten that many parts of your Island are isolated and this new law is unfeasable. Can't they send it back to the E.U. for a rethink and tell them to get real. ??? Joining the E.U. wasn't the most useful thing to happen to you.