HC Deb 27 January 1984 vol 52 cc728-9W
Sir Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the export of live food animals to Italy.

Mrs. Fenner

To date, licences under the Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981 to export live food animals to Italy have been issued only when transportation is by air. However, we are now prepared to consider applications for licences to export food animals to Italy by road. The decision has been taken in the light of the progress which has now been made within the European Community in implementing the directives which safeguard the welfare of animals during international transport. Animals travelling to Italy will have the continuous protection of the directives 77/489 and 81/389/EEC which establish common rules for the fedding, watering and general care of the animals.

Under the provisions of directive 81/389/EEC each consignment of exported food animals is accompanied by an international certificate on which certain information is recorded. This information includes certification by a veterinary inspector that the animals are fit to travel, and the time when the animals were loaded for export. Where applicable, details of the location and timing of feeding and watering en route are subsequently added. The authorities in the member states of transit and of destination must check this certificate and take it into account when discharging their obligation to enforce the Community rules.

In addition to the arrangements under the directive, a special surveillance system will be introduced to gather additional information on the conditions in which food animals travel by road from Great Britain to Italy. This system has been devised in discussions with the state veterinary authorities in both France and Italy, which will be co-operating in the monitoring and recording of data on the animals' welfare both en route and on arrival. The additional surveillance will add significantly to our knowledge of the welfare aspects of international animal transport. The state veterinary service will be accompanying certain consignments to their Italian destinations.

Animals travelling by road to Italy—as indeed to any destination abroad — are given the protection of the Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981. Under this, Agriculture Ministers grant export licences only if they are satisfied that the arrangements for transporting the animals to their final destination are such as to protect them from unnecessary suffering. All export applications will continue to be scrutinised rigorously taking account of all available information. Exporters are today being notified of this change in arrangements and of the terms under which licenses may be granted.