International Horse Welfare Charity Welcomes EC Report

A Review of the EC Directive on the Transportation of Live Animals out today is welcomed by a UK equine welfare charity.

The International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH), a leading International horse welfare charity, welcomes the recommendations made in the review, which covers transport for all live animals, but particularly those specifically outlined for the transport of equines.

Says Dr. Douglas Munro, Director of ILPH, “The Report confirms that live transportation of horses into Europe for slaughter is carried out with little or no regard to the welfare provisions of the 1995 Directive. The Commission should be complimented on a Report that is factual and pulls no punches – it portrays what is indeed a wretched trade.

“We were invited by the Commission to propose recommendations that would improve the conditions of equines transported across Europe for slaughter. We are extremely pleased to see that all of the points that we submitted appear in the Report.

“Once implemented these changes to the Directive will undoubtedly help to improve the appalling suffering that horses, ponies and donkeys have to endure from their country of origin to the slaughterhouse – they should also hasten the end of the trade.”

“We sincerely hope that member states and those wishing to join the EC who are corridor countries for this traffic, will enforce the Directive within their borders. While we are very pleased with today’s report we will not stop lobbying until the traffic in live horses is stopped.”

The Report now goes to the Council and the European Parliament. The ILPH will work hard to ensure that the Report’s proposals are adopted as quickly as possible.

www.ilph.org