INVESTIGATION INTO TRANSPORTS OF LIVE ANIMALS FROM ...

Transport of horses from Spain to Italy, 27.01.2006
1.2 Regarding unsuitable partition
It must be presumed that the veterinary service in Spain was either not present during loading
operations or did not pay the necessary attention. (please see point II.5).
2. Likely undue suffering / transport in a way, which could cause injury
The animals were transported in a way, which was likely to cause them undue suffering as the the
permitted maximum journey time was most probably exceeded by far.
The animals were transported in a way, which could cause them injury as an unsuitable partition
was used.
This constitutes a violation of Art. 5, section A, paragraph 1, lit. b of Council Directive
91/628 EEC as amended by Council Directive 95/29 EC.
3. Obligatory unloading at staging point not planned - Route plan not duly drawn up regarding
journey times and rest periods
It was not programmed to unload and rest the horses for at least 24 hours at an authorized staging
point after a maximum of 24 hours of transport. The indicated estimated journey time of 23 hours
is unrealistic for a transport of 2.140 km. At the maximum permitted speed of 80 km/h the journey
time would be nearly 27 hours. The time for stops during transport must be added to this. A
realistic journey time for this distance (under normal circumstances, without delays due to a
blocked highway as in this case) is therefore at least 32 hours.
This constitutes a violation of Art. 5, section A, paragraph 2, lit. b and lit. d, first indent of
Council Directive 91/628 EEC as amended by Council Directive 95/29 EC, as well as a
violation of Art. 3, paragraph 1, lit. aa, second indent of Council Directive 91/628 EEC as
amended by Council Directive 95/29 EC in connection with Chapter VII, point 4, lit. c and
Chapter VII, point 5 of the Annex.
4. Exceeded maximum journey time very likely
It is required that horses be unloaded after a maximum journey time of 24 hours to be rested, fed
and watered for at least 24 hours before continuing journey. When the Animals’ Angels team
observed the truck on 27.01.06 at 17:00 the horses had already been on board for 23 hours. The
remaining distance to destination was 1.434 km. According to the drivers they planned to continue
transport directly to destination, without unloading the horses for rest. No programmed staging
point was indicated on the route plan. Therefore, it is very likely, that the transport was in fact
carried out directly to destination. Given the remaining distance the remaining journey time was
approx. 22 hours.
This constitutes a violation of Art. 3 paragraph 1, lit. aa, second indent of Council Directive
91/628 EEC as amended by Council Directive 95/29 EC in connection with Chapter VII, point
4, lit c and point 5 of the Annex.
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Place and date of report: Freiburg, 25.02.2006 © Copyright Animals’ Angels e.V.
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