EU: Court of Auditors casts doubt on animal transport regulations

Livestock production is not distributed across EU countries and regions, and farms tend to specialize in one type or stage of production. Against this backdrop, farmers and MEAT producers seek to minimize production and slaughter costs, maximize revenues and optimize economies of scale by exploiting cost differences between EU Member States. These factors encourage the transport of animals, especially when transport costs are a small part of the price of meat in the retail sector.

"Transportation of live animals over long distances can have detrimental effects on their well-being," said Eva Lindström, a member of the ECA. “EU animal transport legislation is not enforced by Member States and there is a risk that transporters could exploit loopholes that stem from various national sanctions systems.”

There is a risk that carriers may choose to travel longer to avoid passing countries with tighter EU enforcement and tougher sanctions. Producers can also break transport rules, for example when it comes to transporting unfit animals, as countries generally do not impose debatable fines.

In the review, the auditors emphasize that the negative impact of transportation on animal welfare can be mitigated by reducing the number and duration of trips and improving conditions for animals during transportation. However, they also point to some alternatives for transporting live animals. For example, the use of local and mobile slaughterhouses will eliminate the need to transport animals and be more environmentally friendly. Consumers also play an important role: the survey shows that some are willing to pay more for meat, but only if they are told about good animal welfare.

Auditors say providing consumers with more information will help them make informed buying choices. This can be done with the EU Animal Welfare Labeling System, which will bring more transparency and harmonize meat labeling across the bloc. Ultimately, the new rules may be an opportunity to promote structural change towards a more sustainable food supply. This will mean incentives given to producers and consumers to encourage sustainable behaviour. EU policy makers may consider the price of animals suffering from transport costs and the price of meat.

Data on the transport of live animals to the EU is fragmented and the European Commission does not have a complete and centralized overview. Auditors say technological advances can be better used in this area. For example, an EU-level IT system for tracking all live animal movements can help centralize data, and cameras and sensors can track animal movements and measure animal welfare.