Welfare

North East Wales Region's Welfare Officer Mike Melia 01745 720243

   

The Region's Welfare Officer acts to ensure that horses in North East Wales get appropriate care and attention. 

Ragwort and laminitis are two areas where the help of the welfare officer is continually in demand.
 
What's On The Welfare of Animals During Transport Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005

The new transport regulation started in the EU on 5 January 2007, and applies across the European Union (EU). The regulations aim to improve the welfare of animals during transportation across the European Union. All animals must be fit for the intended journey. Journey times should be kept to a minimum. Those handling animals are trained and competent. The vehicle and its loading/unloading facilities are designed, constructed and maintained to avoid injury and suffering. Water, feed and rest are given to the animals as required, and sufficient space and height is allowed.

Will the regulations affect me?    The Regulation does not apply in a number of cases:
· If the transport is not connected to economic activity
· Going to the vet
· When one horse is transported by its owner, or other responsible person or two horses, accompanied by two people.
· Transportation of horses by hobby breeders.
· Horses transported to competitions or shows for pleasure, even when they win minor cash prizes. However this must not be part of the transporter’s business but related to their hobby. Individuals attending competitions for pleasure who share the cost of petrol, but where no profit is made by the individual carrying out the transport, are excluded from the regulation providing that every horse is accompanied by a person who has responsibility for its welfare (for example, 2 horses would need to be accompanied by 2 people). If a haulier is paid to move a horse to attend a show or competition for pleasure, then that would require the haulier to have applied for the necessary authorisations and comply with the new regulations.

What’s an economic activity?    The regulation does’t define ‘economic’ activity but indicates it to be any transport of animals undertaken as part of a business or commercial activity where money is made, for example
· Commercial hauliers
· Professional horse racers
· Animals being transported to be sold as part of a business
· Those who move horses in connection with professional riding and livery

Journey requirements  -  If you transport horses over 65 km in connection with an economic activity you need to apply for a transporter’s authorisation. Transporter’s authorisations are issued by the state veterinary service. They are currently free and will last for 5 years, the forms and guidance can be found on Defra’s website.

When animals within the scope of the regulation are transported to shows/competitions the period at the show is considered ‘neutral’ time and is not included in the journey time. The journey time is the combined time to and from the show.

From 5 January 2008 the regulation requires mandatory certification of competence for the transport of horses over 65 km, in connection with an economic activity. Details are to be made available on the Defra website.

These notes are intended to provide a brief overview of the regulation and how it is likely to apply in certain instances. This should be read in conjunction with the legislation and Defra’s guidance notes available from their website.

Published by BHS Welfare Department Jan 2007

Contact R. Molloy 01926 707807 
 

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