§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent assessment her Department has made of the operation of regulations on live animal tranport in(a) the UK and (b) the EU; [122650]
(2) what recent discussions she has had with EU colleagues on live animal transport and associated standards. [122651]
§ Mr. BradshawThe welfare of animals during transport in the EU is governed by directive 91/628/EEC (as amended) and implemented in Great Britain by the Welfare of Animal (Transport) Order 1997. We carried out a limited review of the Order in 1999 to fit in with proposals expected from the European Commission to update and improve directive. Since then, the UK and other member states have repeatedly urged the Commission to bring forward their proposals and I am pleased that Commissioner Byrne has announced that he intends to publish them before the end of July.