The ongoing debate regarding animal welfare within the European Union has gained renewed attention as campaign group Eurogroup for Animals has highlighted the pressing need for significant reforms to the EU's transport regulations governing live animal movement.

Each year, millions of animals undertake challenging journeys both within Europe and to destinations beyond its borders.

As these sentient beings are transported via land and maritime routes, the organization asserts that the existing regulatory framework does not provide adequate protections for their welfare, particularly when they are exported to non-EU countries.

Eurogroup for Animals, which advocates for improved animal welfare policies, argues that the EU's live animal transport industry faces numerous systemic issues, stating that practices are inherently detrimental to countless animals.

The group points to several critical problems, including instances where vessels transporting live animals are delayed at borders for extended periods, leaving animals without access to food or water.

Additionally, reports of neglect by personnel, leading to injuries and exposure to severe environmental conditions, underscore the urgent need for oversight.

To address these concerns, the organization has long called for the modernization of the EU's Transport Regulation, advocating for stronger regulations and for policymakers to consider transitioning away from the live animal transport model entirely.

These calls come on the heels of ongoing discussions among EU officials who have been examining transport legislation since December 2023. Despite this attention, Eurogroup for Animals contends that the proposed regulations thus far lack sufficient strength to ensure the welfare of transported animals effectively.

As part of their advocacy, Eurogroup for Animals stresses that it is crucial for the legislative proposals under consideration to be adapted to comprehensively address the welfare needs of animals currently affected by transport practices.

They are also urging policy makers to explore alternatives to live animal transport, aiming to eliminate the requirement for animals to endure long and arduous journeys that, according to the group, are fundamentally unnatural.

The scale of live animal transport within the EU underscores the significance of this ongoing initiative.

In 2022, over 1.5 billion animals—including ovines, bovines, poultry, and pigs—were transported alive intra-EU and to non-European destinations.

Notably, farm birds constituted 97% of these exports, with Hungary, Czechia, and Poland identified as the leading exporters of poultry.

Furthermore, in 2019, the EU reported the export of 57,523 tonnes of live fish, primarily to other member states, while 87,817 horses, asses, mules, and hinnies were transported alive across Europe and beyond.

As legislative developments continue, the call for more robust and humane regulations in the live animal transport sector remains a focal point for animal welfare advocates in the European Union.