State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic Welfare

State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic Welfare of Animals during Transport View‘s of a new EU Member State MVDr. Josef Holejsovsky, Ph. D. Stockholm, 25. 10. 2004

Welfare of animals during transport Since 2000, the Czech Republic has been the signatory party of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals During International. Transport (No. 20/2000 Coll. Of International Treaties) and recently is going to ratify the amendment of this Agreement of the Council of Europe. On May 1, 2004 the amendment (No. 77/2004) of the Welfare Act 246/1992 Coll. came in force and in particular the Decree No. 193/2004 Coll. on welfare of transported animals. In this way the harmonisation of national legislation with relevant EU legislation has been accopmplished.

Welfare of transported animals as laid down in the Czech Republic legislation • • unweaned foals, calves, lambs and kids on a milk diet and piglets 9 1 (watering, feeding) – 9 pigs - journey time max. 24 hours with continuous access to water horses - journey time max. 24 hours, watering and feeding each 8 hrs bovine, ovine and caprine animals - 14 - 1 (watering, feeding) – 14 chickens - no watering and feeding, provided that the journey is finished within 72 hours after hatching cows in milk shall be milked at intervals not exceeding 12 hours (+ 3) the journey time may be extended by 2 hours to reach the place of destination after the journey time - 24 hours rest - unloading, watering, feeding

Competencies of the state authorities of the Czech Republic I Ministry of Agriculture • sets the main tasks in the field of animal protection, organizes, manages, and supervises their accomplishment • manages and coordinates state performance as regards the animal protection (Ministry of Health, CCAW, SVA)

Competencies of the state authorities of the Czech Republic II Central Commission on Animal Welfare (CCAW) • recommends measures and coordinates accomplishment of tasks regarding animal protection • discusses, coordinates, and supervises accomplishment of tasks regarding the protection of animals and submits proposals for necessary measures to competent state administration authorities • proposes examination codes for the animal transport qualification and carries out examinations leading to obtaining this qualification • its operational bodies are : Committee for Protection of Livestock Animals, Commitee for Free-living Animals, Committee for Companion Animals and Committee for Laboratory Animals

Competencies of the state authorities of the Czech Republic III State Veterinary Administration • prepares and implements the Animal Protection Plan • supervises any fulfilment of duties set by Animal Protection Act and generally binding current legislation issued on its basis • cooperates in animal protection inspection with animal protection authorities of the Council of Europe, the European Union, and third countries, and provides them with information upon request • keeps centralized records of transport contractors in accordance with Article 8 k (of the Animal Protection Act) • collects information on the animal protection program and publishes it on the State Veterinary Administration‘s web site • organizes professional training and life-long education for official veterinarians and other qualified staff to perform activities specified in special legal regulations regarding the animal protection and animal welfare

Competencies of the state authorities of the Czech Republic IV Regional Veterinary Administration Authorities • supervise fulfilment of duties laid down on animal keepers and other physical and legal persons • prepare expert reports and register animal transport contractors in the area of their operation in accordance with Article 8 k of the Animal Protection Act and withdraw these registrations • approve and check road itineraries submitted by the shipping party prior to the animal transport and after its accomplishment; keep these documents in a prescribed manner • set out veterinary conditions for conducting animal experiments; • on the basis of inspections, set up correcting measures towards animal keepers and other physical and legal persons • instigate hearings of offences and administrative torts due to any violation of the duties imposed on animal keepers & other physical and legal persons by the Animal Protection Act.

Competencies of the state authorities of the Czech Republic V Municipal Authorities • discuss animal protection offences and administrative torts reported from regional veterinary authorities • adopt appropriate measures and, if necessary, cooperate with a competent police body. • keep records on persons who have committed an offence against Animal Protection Act for 1 year following the legal validity of the offence decision • are obliged to discuss all initiatives registered in compliance with Article 22 of Animal Protection Act and notify the competent regional veterinary administration authority about the results of proceedings and measures taken within one month • are obliged to request an expertise from veterinary administration authorities, which expertise is binding for them in the offence or administrative tort proceedings

State supervision Ministry of Agriculture State Veterinary Administration Central Commission for Animal Welfare Regional Veterinary Administrations Police Municipal Authorities breeders, owners, traders

Regional Veterinary Administrations Liberec Usti nad Labem Karlovy Vary 14 RVAs Capital Prague + Central Bohemia Hradec Kralove Pardubice Ostrava Plzen Olomouc Jihlava Brno Ceske Budejovice Zlin

2003 2002 2001 2000 4 729 106 6 790 793 7 309 443 7 915 877 7 188 138 6 000 1999 5 370 960 3 931 608 1 651 996 4 000 1998 1997 1996 525 333 2 000 1995 45 538 0 1994 Transport of animals - numbers of controlled animals 8 000

Numbers of animals inspected with regards to export, import and transit year 2000 Animal Export Import Transit 35 530 12 452 388 383 Horses 1 447 2 672 88 646 Sheep 1 542 1 377 89 766 19 222 639 947 25 613 154 3 626 034 760 857 2 064 595 23 924 26 218 Dogs and Cats 25 124 164 11 450 Exotic animals 815 87 066 2 517 Exotic birds 220 007 21 751 28 600 Cattle Pigs Poultry Water fowl

Numbers of animals inspected with regards to export, import and transit year 2001 Animal Export Import Transit 42 866 1 995 289 495 Horses 2 205 4 005 49 328 Sheep 1 577 971 73 559 19 840 332 7 182 37 867 397 4 047 614 659 021 2 324 521 21 614 2 094 Dogs and Cats 26 410 63 12 814 Exotic animals 1 722 106 125 332 848 241 786 18 146 29 824 Cattle Pigs Poultry Water fowl Exotic birds

Numbers of animals inspected with regards to export, import and transit year 2002 Animal Export Import Transit 58 333 4 405 421 125 1 747 2 392 38 963 592 313 53 273 55 334 3 094 8 951 34 221 570 4 708 619 969 743 3 086 411 30 426 2 022 Dogs and Cats 22 200 92 20 453 Exotic animals 1 686 704 192 560 2 324 215 574 25 091 20 854 Cattle Horses Sheep Pigs Poultry Water fowl Exotic birds

Numbers of animals inspected with regards to export, import and transit year 2003 Animal Export Import Transit 70 771 3 917 419 569 Horses 1 483 3 572 48 824 Sheep 1 644 545 63 178 52 085 2 068 5 200 40 350 378 4 356 278 1 661 298 2 127 21 668 0 Dogs and Cats 19 029 120 26 356 Exotic animals 1 423 011 124 309 61 126 229 21 219 23 897 Cattle Pigs Poultry Water fowl Exotic birds

Results of inspection on animal transport

Animal transport from the point of view of animal welfare I • the utilization of local slaughterhouses – high density of slaughterhouses in the Czech Republic • preference given to a transport of raw meat • the direct purchase of slaugter animals in farms without any transport to a market or any assembly point • the utilization of negative selection of breeding pigs sensitive to a stress • preference given to the transport of embryos instead of live breeding animals • the close international cooperation regarding long-distance transports of animals (espec. horses) • the qualification of transporters

Animal transport from the point of view of animal welfare II • the utilization of local slaughterhouses – high density of slaughterhouses in the Czech Republic

Red meat slaughterhouses - high capacity DC MO TP UL RA PS AB BE PY PZ RO NA RK PU KO BR SU OP CR SY BN PB JE HK KH PM DO JC NB KL CH TU SM MB ME LN KV TC JN CL LT CV SO LB NJ HB PJ ZR PI KT TA PV BK PE JI ST TR BO JH VS ZL UH ZN CK PR KM VY BM CB PT OS KI HO BV FM

Red meat slaughterhouses - low capacity DC MO TP JN UL CL LN AB PS BE PY PZ RO BR SU OP CR SY BN PB RK PU KO KH PM JE HK NB KL RA DO NA ME CH TC JC MB KV TU SM LT CV SO LB NJ HB PJ ZR PI KT TA PV BK PE JI ST TR BO JH BM VS ZL UH ZN CK PR KM VY CB PT OS KI HO BV FM

White meat slaughterhouses - high capacity DC MO TP JN UL CL JC MB RA AB CH PS BE JE HK NB KL RK PU KO PZ KH PM OP CR SY BN PB BR SU PY RO TC NA ME LN KV TU SM LT CV SO LB NJ HB PJ DO ZR PI KT TA PV BK PE JI ST TR BO JH BM VS ZL UH HO ZN CK PR KM VY CB PT OS BV KI FM

White meat slaughterhouses - low capacity DC MO TP JN UL CL JC MB RA AB CH PS BE JE HK NB KL RK PU KO PZ KH PM OP CR SY BN PB BR SU PY RO TC NA ME LN KV TU SM LT CV SO LB NJ HB PJ DO ZR PI KT TA PV BK PE JI ST TR BO JH BM VS ZL UH HO ZN CK PR KM VY CB PT OS BV KI FM

280 km Czech Republic – appr. distances 92 km 112 km 133 km 362 km 94 km 165 km 202 km 140 km 490 km

Transportation of cattle to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Plzen from 1 to 100 animals from 501 to 1 000 animals over 1 500 animals from 101 to 500 animals from 1 001 to 1 500 animals target district

Transportation of cattle to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Kromeriz from 1 to 100 animals from 501 to 1 000 animals over 1 500 animals from 101 to 500 animals from 1 001 to 1 500 animals target district

Transportation of cattle to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Jindrichuv Hradec from 1 to 100 animals from 501 to 1 000 animals over 1 500 animals from 101 to 500 animals from 1 001 to 1 500 animals target district

Transportation of cattle to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Litomerice from 1 to 100 animals from 501 to 1 000 animals over 1 500 animals from 101 to 500 animals from 1 001 to 1 500 animals target district

Transportation of pigs to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Pribram from 1 to 100 animals from 501 to 1 000 animals over 1 500 animals from 101 to 500 animals from 1 001 to 1 500 animals target district

Transportation of pigs to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Svitavy from 1 to 100 animals from 501 to 1 000 animals over 1 500 animals from 101 to 500 animals from 1 001 to 1 500 animals target district

Transportation of pigs to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Prostejov from 1 to 100 animals from 501 to 1 000 animals over 1 500 animals from 101 to 500 animals from 1 001 to 1 500 animals target district

Transportation of pigs to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Jihlava from 1 to 100 animals from 501 to 1 000 animals over 1 500 animals from 101 to 500 animals from 1 001 to 1 500 animals target district

Transportation of poultry to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Klatovy from 1 to 20 000 animals from 100 001 to 500 000 animals over 1 000 animals from 20 001 to 100 000 animals from 500 001 to 1 000 animals target district

Transportation of poultry to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Usti nad Orlici from 1 to 20 000 animals from 100 001 to 500 000 animals over 1 000 animals from 20 001 to 100 000 animals from 500 001 to 1 000 animals target district

Transportation of poultry to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Strakonice from 1 to 20 000 animals from 100 001 to 500 000 animals over 1 000 animals from 20 001 to 100 000 animals from 500 001 to 1 000 animals target district

Transportation of poultry to slaughterhouses in 2003 target district: Prague from 1 to 20 000 animals from 100 001 to 500 000 animals over 1 000 animals from 20 001 to 100 000 animals from 500 001 to 1 000 animals target district

Animal transport from the point of view of animal welfare III • the close international cooperation in longdistance transports of animals ( espec. transport of horses)

Welfare risks – During long rest pauses and even in modern means of transport there is a problem to ensure good conditions of microclimate without any air-conditioned space for animals (overheating in summer, cold space in winter).

Animal health risks – using of unappropriate clothing and equipment represents heavy risks. Persons who are involved in refreshing and care of animals during transport are not well equipped ( see the sandals used)

Animal health risks – feeding and bedding during pauses may also represent substantiable risk towards to the transmission of contagious diseases.

Animal transport from the point of view of animal welfare IV • the qualification of transporters

Transporter authorisation

Certificate of competence for persons transporting animals

Time limits suggested by the CR when the Regulation of EP and Council negotiated - slaughter animals • the basic limit for road transports of slaughter animals – 9 hours (4 hours – pause for driver – 4 hours) – prolongation of the time limit by 2 (3) hours if during this time the destination place is reached – opinions of breeders, meat processors, traders, transporters…

Views expressed by different subjects as regards time limits for slaughter animals transport Subject Breeders´ Associations Cattle Breeders´ Association of the CR Czech-Moravian Pig Breeders´ Association Traders Czech Union of Meat and Livestock Traders Breeding services, a. s. Transporters BOBY - FLEISCH, spol. s r. o. VAMAG Havlíčkův Brod Ing. Pavel Kapoun - AGROSERVIS Meat processors State administration bodies Czech Association of Meat Processors Ministry of Agriculture of the CR (Animal Production Commodities Dept. ) CCAW, SVA CR Transport to slaughterhouses max. 9 hrs (+2) disagreement with max. 9 hrs (+2) (possibility to reduce to 6 hrs) max. 9 hrs (+2) red - journey time

Time limits suggested by the CR for Regulation of EP and Council – breeding animals • the basic limit for road transport of breeding animals – maximum 36 hours with the rest at least 4 hours (9 – 4 – 9) – prolongation of the time limit by 2 (3) hours if during this time the destination place is reached – opinions of breeders, meat processors, traders, transporters….

Views expressed by different subjects as regards breeding animals transports Subject International transport Breeders´ Associations Cattle Breeders´ Association of the CR Czech-Moravian Pig Breeders´ Association Traders Czech Union of Meat and Livestock Traders Breeding services, a. s. Transporters BOBY - FLEISCH, spol. s r. o. VAMAG Havlíčkův Brod Ing. Pavel Kapoun - AGROSERVIS Meat processors State administration bodies breeding animals only 9 -1 -9 9 -3 -9 12 hrs and more when equipped for watering and controlled ventilation 28 - 30 hrs watering, controlled ventilation legal provisions in force are sufficient * Czech Association of Meat Processors - Ministry of Agriculture of the CR (Animal Production Commodities Dept. ) 9 -4 -9 CCAW, SVA CR 9 - 4 - 9 (+2) max: 9 - 4 - 9 - 12 - 9 - 4 - 9 30 % free space red - journey time blue - rest periods without unloading

Time limits suggested by the CR for Regulation of EP and Council - long lasting transports • transport lasting longer than 36 hours – after the maximum limit (9 – 4 – 9) the time 12 hours for rest of animals on the vehicle – -then maximum twice to repeat the basic limit with the rest time minimum (9 – 4 - 9) – special space capacity in the vehicle • 2/3 for transported animals • 1/3 of empty space In the time for rest, this empty space could be used for better checks, refreshing and rest of animals. • transport of registered horses (Regulation No. 90/426/EEC) – to keep the transport time conditions for 14 hours with 1 hour of a minimum rest following the watering and feeding of animals

Other problems in the field of animal transport I • to extend the present draft of the Regulation on the protection of poultry and other species (i. e. ratitae, dogs, cats, fish) transported for commercional purposes • to determine in the EU the unified system for animal transport vehicles designations • to determine in the EU the forms of documents attesting the suitability of persons and vehicles involved in transports (i. e. driver passport‘s size) • to specify with objectivity the technical parameters of transport vehicles, especially the vehicles intended for long-lasting transports • to determine the conditions and equipment of rest places

Other problems in the field of animal transport II • to evaluate practical possibilities of veterinary checks on animals or to give first aid to injured animals (i. e. bulls for fattening, sheep in multiple-floor vehicle), with regards to the fact that the loading and unloading procedures are the most stressing factors during transport (animals should not be unloaded according to the draft of the Regulation) • to use the technical means (checks of tachograph, GPS – system GALILEO) for the surveillance over the transport course (time of transport and rests)

What we should consider during transport of animals from the point of view of animal welfare • time limits • distance limits • equipment of transport means, floor capacity and the space ?

Opinion of the Czech Republic With regards to previous unsuccessful negotiations on the Regulation of EP and Council (Animal Transport) , the Czech Republic recommends to focuse future negotiations more right on the transport vehicles, its floor capacity, equipment, possibility to enlarge the floor capacity during transport pauses, conditions for refreshing of animals and possibilities to carry out the veterinary checks.

Many thanks to my colleagues participating with me on the project MVDr. Jiří Dousek, Ph. D. RNDr. Oldřich Valcl, CSc. MVDr. Aurika Smolová

www. svscr. cz

Thank you for your attention j. holejsovsky@svscr. cz