WAV Comment:  Congrats to our good friend Lesley at EoA in the Netherlands.  Excellent work to get the confirmation.  We have already taken this info to the team at CIWF who are fighting justice for the calves transported from Scotland.

Live calf exports is an issue that has bugged me for the last 30 years – see more at https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/about-us/  and our work with Lesley and others to get justice for the baby calves at the EU.

This is a great result for Lesley and all live export campaigners.  It can, and will be used in the courts to fight for justice.  The issue of Scottish calf exports could be one of the early uses here.

See more at: 

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/05/05/the-cruelty-transport-of-unweaned-calves-direct-from-ireland-to-france-and-from-scotland-via-ramsgate-england-for-further-fattening-in-spain/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/06/16/scotland-live-calf-exports-from-scotland-judicial-review-latest-news-from-ciwf-london/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2018/11/27/england-dutchman-onderwater-exports-scottish-calves-from-ramsgate-plus-more-info/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2018/11/15/november-2018-scottish-farmers-now-exporting-calves-via-ramsgate-england-with-help-from-dutchman-oderwater/

 

Regards Mark

 

 

 

Derogation

derogation; plural noun: derogations

1.  an exemption from or relaxation of a rule or law.

“countries assuming a derogation from EC law”

 

Thus ‘no derogation’ means the existing law must be enforced; read on the info from Lesley.

 

IMPORTANT NEWS: EU Commission confirms that there is no derogation to the feeding intervals in the case of animals transported on RORO (roll-on roll-off) vessels.

Animals transported on journeys including a RORO must be fed at the same frequency as ones transported solely by road.

This means the journeys of unweaned calves being trucked from farms in Ireland to Irish harbours and then ferried to Cherbourg, France should be phased out as they are in conflict with the law. These calves are going for 23 and up to 29 hours in total without being fed, whereas the EU law stipulates feeding unweaned animals after 18hours maximum.

The EU confirms that the exemption in point 1.7(a) of the EC 1/2005 specifically only refers to journey times and rest periods, and the requirement 1.3 and 1.4, such as watering and feeding intervals, must still apply to transport by sea. Point 1.7 (b) refers only to journey times and resting periods without altering the meaning of point 1.7(A) regarding watering and feeding intervals.

 

 

Unlike weaned cattle, which are ruminants and can technically be fed on board the vehicle by placing hay inside the vehicle, unweaned animals cannot yet eat forage and are dependent on milk or milk replacer to get the nutrition they need and feeling of satiation. Because this is impossible to do on board a truck, and is not being done by any of the transporters, unweaned calves (and other unweaned animals like kids and lambs) can never be kept on board a vehicle for longer than 18hrs in total.

(Technically, even leaving them on board for longer than 9hrs is illegal, as the law stipulates that after 9 hrs unweaned animals must receive their first water break, and if necessary be fed. Although the trucks do have a water system, it is known that not all unweaned calves know how to use it or can use it. And in any case, they never can be fed either during this first break, despite it being mandatory if the calves need it.)

Please see attached the questions sent to the EU Commission and their response. I am also attaching our most recent investigation trailing unweaned calves from Ireland via Rosslare port to Cherbourg port, France via the Stena Ferry.

With best wishes, also on behalf of L214, Ethical Farming Ireland and Animal Welfare Foundation,

Lesley

Lesley Moffat, MSc Ethology
Director, Eyes on Animals