Category: Live Transport

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport, Stray Animals

EU: A Little EU Experience On A Few Of Our Issues Of Concern.

 

zerissene EU-Flagge am Stock

 

The UK voted 2 years ago to get out of the EU and take back control of its own future.

With the possibility of a deal now on the table (13/11/18) I though it may be a good time to look a little more at ‘EU departments’ and to question if the EU citizen is really getting a good deal for what (their) nation contributes to the EU.

Here is a formal list of the biggest to smallest contributors to the EU:

 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/316691/european-union-eu-budget-share-of-contributions/

 

UK – 13.5% – compared to Germany 19% and France 16.6%.  The 3 biggest contributors.

Move down to the other end and we see Luxembourg 0.25%, Bulgaria 0.34% and Romania 1.15%.  All percentages can be seen on the above link.

So, what do we get for this ?

We (as an organisation) have over 27 years worth of experience in live animals being transported around the EU and via our sister organisation ‘Serbian Animals Voice’  https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/  around 14 years of experience dealing with stray animal welfare in Serbia – not currently an EU member state, but a ‘Candidate Country’ to join.

With our experience we have written and produced a large amount of letters and questions to the EU over the years; especially (for live transport) the Health and Food Safety Commission (DG SANTE)  and for Serbia animal welfare, the EU Enlargement Commission to express our concerns before the EU door is opened up to Serbia.

DG has bothered to contact us at the odd interval; but the Enlargement Commission has never really bothered despite all our evidence abut non compliance with the EU’s very own ‘Rule of Law’ (Copenhagen agreement).

 

So, anyway, here is a formal listing of the EU Departments and Executive Agencies which ‘control’ the day to day operations at EU HQ.

Link – https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments_en   – this is from ‘Europa’; the formal site of the EU.

We see they list no less than 53 agencies and departments.  So lets go a little deeper regarding live animal transport and Serbia.  Live animals transport comes under ‘Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) – and here is the link to their site from the above listing:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/health-and-food-safety_en

From the link you can see the leadership and organisation; but then go a little deeper.  Below Martin Seychell you can download the organisation chart of just this Commission  – here is the link:  https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/organisation_charts/organisation-chart-dg-sante_en.pdf

7 main departments (A to G); each with a head; and then each department being sub divided into different organisations – approximately 34 at our count; each having ?? number of employees.  On its own site, the FVO  http://ec.europa.eu/food/fvo/how_en.print.htm ; part of the Health and Consumers Directorate-General; says that it has at least 170 employees.  The FVO and the DG SANTE are really responsible for undertaking EU legislation compliance with EU regulations in all member states.  They do not and it does not work.

Moving on to Serbia and its application to join the EU; this is undertaken via the  European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations which are headed by Commissioner Hahn – Link:  https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/european-neighbourhood-policy-and-enlargement-negotiations_en

Here is a link to all the major persons (but not all staff) associated with this Commission – https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/european-neighbourhood-policy-and-enlargement-negotiations_en#leadership

 

And here is an organisational chart of the structure:  https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/near-org-chart.pdf

42 departments or more; each with staff and people working for them.

 

So by giving a little insight into just 2 of the 53 EU Departments and Executive Agencies that combine to produce the mighty EU machine; one would think that this; which does not even start to include MEP’s  – http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20130610IPR11414/elections-2014-share-out-of-meps-seats-among-28-eu-countries   – one would think that issues such as live animal transport and stray animal management could be undertaken by such a huge amount of staff.

Experience in both theatres of live transport and Serbian animal welfare show us there is NO REAL CONCERN at EU level.  Surely, paying all this money to the EU as taxpayers (UK – Mark) and (Germany – Venus); are we not right to ask exactly what the 2 sections of 53 are doing for issues that concern us ?

No; the EU does not want to know; instead it works to punish the UK for voting to leave the club and taking back control.  Other member states all seem happy to continue contributing finances as shown above; for getting what exactly in return ?

The EU system does not work.  It employs thousands and has a great website, but the reality is it does very little; if anything; to address the concerns of EU citizens over such important issues as live animal transport enforcement.

 

Still want to be an EU member state ?  the facts are above – you decide if it is financially worth it for very little return.

Regards Mark.

 

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Live Transport

EU Commission: never again use the word “moral”!

 

zerissene EU-Flagge am Stock

MEP Stefan Eck: “Everything must now be done to put an end to this miserable, legalized animal cruelty!”

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On 08.11.2018, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Law (ENVI) held the first debate on the “Report on the implementation of the Regulation on the protection of animals during transport inside and outside the EU (EC 1/2005 )” instead of.

Continue reading “EU Commission: never again use the word “moral”!” →

Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News, Live Transport

EU: ‘Food and Veterinary Office (FVO)’ – Ever Been There and Used Its Information ? – Have a Look.

EU- Flagge

Over the last few days Venus and I have been looking further into EU live animal transport.  With years of investigation experience, I want to provide you with a section of the EU that is available to all; and yet seems to keep a low profile on its work with regard live animal issues.  Why is this ? – could it be like us, they also have no faith in the mighty EU actually taking any action against non compliant member states ? – Is it all just a job producing, money making, paper producing exercise that actually does very little, if anything, to improve animal welfare.

Venus will be producing a post soon re pig tail docking in Germany.  His is associated with an FVO audit report undertaken in Germany very recently.

The section of the EU is called the ‘Food and Veterinary Office’; or FVO for short.  Some of you may have come across this in the past; some not.  I will try to give a quick and simple summary of what the FVO is about and how you can access some (why not all ?) of its investigation reports; which I am sure, will be of interest to many of you.

Audits are continually undertaken by the FVO across EU member states; although not necessarily in the same year.  In their words:

In its function as “eyes and ears” of the Commission, the FVO verifies on the spot that applicable requirements in the areas of food safety, animal health and welfare and plant health are properly implemented and enforced by Member States and also by third countries. By contributing to the improvement of national control systems, the effective enforcement of requirements in the EU and third countries is enhanced. This, in turn, helps to ensure that:

  • Consumers can be confident that the safety of their food is protected by strict enforcement of controls.
  • Trade can take place under conditions of uniform and high safety levels, which allow markets to focus on price, quality and consumer preferences.
  • Exporters can harness the advantages of a single EU market, with high and uniform levels of safety enforcement, to promote their position on world markets.
  • The key role of food safety in wider EU policies, including obligations towards trade partners and developing countries, is supported by effective, non-discriminatory and transparent enforcement.
  • EU policies on safety, including their wider policy implications, are informed by the lessons from on-the-ground audit findings.

In its reports the FVO makes recommendations to the competent authority of the country concerned to deal with any shortcomings revealed during the audits. The competent authority is requested to present an action plan to the FVO on how it intends to address shortcomings. Verification of the completion and effectiveness of corrective actions through a number of follow up activities is an integral part of FVO activity. 

 

To find out more about the specific accessible reports produced by the FVO in its visit to any EU member state; you can click on the following link:

 

http://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit_map/index.cfm

 

Move the cursor over any (EU) country to see the number of audits, click on any country to see a list of audits which have been undertaken; and what they are about.

Lets pick Romania at random as an example.  If we move the mouse pointer over Romania on the EU map; we can see that no less than 8 inspections were undertaken by the FVO in 2018.  Then we are provided with a series of boxes; each relating to (only some) published audit reports undertaken.

For example; we can access report 2018-6477 which specifically deals with classic swine fever.  The report is available in a series of languages; each presented in pdf format.

Accessing the English pdf version, we can see that the report details the following:

FINAL REPORT OF AN AUDIT CARRIED OUT IN

ROMANIA FROM 25 JANUARY 2018 TO 02 FEBRUARY 2018

IN ORDER TO

EVALUATE THE APPLICATION OF ANIMAL HEALTH CONTROL MEASURES

RELATING TO CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER

 

So this for example, provides a lot of information into FVO investigations into swine fever application measures when they visited Romania during January and February 2018.  The specific report makes very interesting reading on the issue for animal welfare campaigners.

This is just one example relating to just one issue in one EU member state regarding animal welfare.  All issues cannot be covered by us in a month of Sundays, but we leave it to you to use the EU map and to go exploring different nations to see the issues of the current and past years.

The aim for us by giving this info ? – for activists to become more informed on what issues have specifically been investigated by the FVO in any EU member state.  Knowledge is news and information which can be taken further; and the FVO reports can then be used to do follow up reports; or to write to the national ministries involved; to ask them some (sometimes) embarrassing questions on what actions they have taken regarding the original FVO audits.  There are always follow up actions after an audit report; but do the nations actually take the actions on board ?

It is time to check other audits for all the member nations; but with Bulgaria for example; we see that there was an audit report done (2018-6571) on the ‘Import Controls for Food and Live Animals’.  As Bulgaria is the main route out for live animals exported from the EU to Turkey; it may well be worth a read to see exactly what the audit report says and to ask what, if anything, has been done as a follow up by the Bulgarian authorities ?

Some of the reports; as per this above case, are NOT yet published.  They are listed but are not yet accessi8ble; We wonder why ?

But we do know the dates and numbers of the reports; so asking questions and obtaining further information could be followed up with national MEP’s if required by you.

Further links and information:

 

https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits_analysis_en

 

Country Profiles – http://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/country_profiles/index.cfm

 

Videos – https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits_analysis/videos_en

 

Further information on the organisation and implementation of Member State controls in the areas of food and feed safety, animal health, animal welfare and plant health may be found in the websites of national control agencies.

Although not an EU obligation, some Member States publish their Multi-annual National Control Plans and Annual Reports on the implementation of these plans. In these cases links to these documents are included.

Link to MANCP (Article 41 of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004)
Member State links

 

Have a hunt around – you may come across a lot more info than you realised;

Regards Mark

Live Transport

First class corrupt governments!

Germany: Federal parliament rejects stop of long-distance transports!

 

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“It is a scandal that animals continue to be transported under terrible conditions to third countries. The outcry after the 37 degree reportage “secret thing animal transports” was once very large – but now you continue just as before, “said Dr. Rusche of the German Animal Welfare Association.

schiffstransport mit Kühenpg

In their application, the Greens called for a suspension of transports – as long as the requirements of the EU regulation on live animal transports in third countries are genuinely met – as well as limited transport times. The FDP (free democrats)  demanded the suppression of transports, if they do not meet the European minimum standards, as well as compliance with the EU Regulation with appropriate controls, reports the German Animal Welfare Association.

Continue reading “First class corrupt governments!” →

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

Australia: Good News Re Aus Live Exports – it is now a matter of when, not if, live export will end.

Australia

 

Dear Mark,

Scathing. That’s the best way to describe the independent assessment of the regulation of Australia’s live export trade.

In his review, released today, Philip Moss found that evidence of cruelty has been dismissed, ignored and even, at times, covered-up by the officials responsible for holding the live export industry to account.

Of course, this isn’t news to us, Mark. The Department of Agriculture had neither the expertise, nor the political support, to hold to account an industry with a cultural acceptance of cruelty and law-breaking.

It’s somewhat of a relief to finally have the truth on the public record. To have Animals Australia’s role as industry watchdog formally acknowledged; to have validated the efforts of whistle-blowers and investigators who’ve risked their lives to expose what this industry does to animals; and to have the calls for help that have fallen on deaf ears for decades condemned in the strongest possible terms.

The government has accepted all recommendations in the Moss Review, knowing anything less would fuel further public outrage. What the Morrison government fails to understand though is that there’s no redemption for this industry — and nothing less than a decision to end the trade will be embraced by Australians.

That’s where our focus remains, and as the Sydney Morning Herald printed today:

“If Labor is elected it looks set to end the industry. The now Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is trying to save the industry, but it is now a matter of when not if [live export will end].”
Mark, I’ve stood in some of the most brutal slaughterhouses on the planet, witnessing first-hand the horrors Australia’s live export industry is responsible for. Step by step we have exposed this industry, and called those responsible for inflicting dreadful suffering to account. Every additional layer of regulation, scrutiny and accountability that has resulted from our work will contribute to its inevitable demise.

But for today, I’m thinking about dear Fazal, who risked his life and sacrificed his career to expose the suffering that sparked this review. I’m thinking about the countless animals who’ve suffered so egregiously, and who have been so let down by those whose job it was to protect them. And I’m thinking about you, Mark. Your kindness and generosity is the reason we are able to be a voice for these animals. And, because of your unwavering support… we are being heard.

In gratitude, always,

Lyn White AM
Director of Strategy
Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

England: (London) Spooky Halloween Petition of Over 1 Million Signatures Handed To Government Demanding Stop To Live Animal Exports.

 

England

On Monday, the streets of London were truly haunted by the horror of UK live exports. As darkness fell, over 1 million petition signatures collected by Compassion in World Farming, 30 Degrees, Avaaz and SumOfUs were delivered to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, urging the Secretary of State to #StopLiveTransport.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who signed the petitions, joined the #StopLiveTransport Day of Action in June, and helped rally so many citizens against the cruelty of live exports.

ciwf october hall 1

On your behalf, our ‘zombie’ Hallowe’en sheep and calves formed a spooky parade to hand in the signatures to Defra. They represented all the British animals who have died during the horror of long distance transport. Check out the full story here.
In total, in 2017, tens of thousands of sheep and young calves were exported from the UK to continental Europe. Many exported animals endure over-crowded journeys without enough food or space to move. Those that survive may then be fattened in barren conditions illegal in the UK, or subjected to inhumane slaughter.

This is why the government must take action to ban exports for slaughter and fattening, and why the 1 million petition signatures are so important. Thank you again to everyone who added their voice.

This week, the streets between DEFRA and Parliament were truly haunted when we joined forces with, 38 Degrees, Avaaz and SumOfUs, to deliver over one million petition signatures to DEFRA, urging the Minister for the Environment, Michael Gove, to #StopLiveTransport

Last May, the government pledged to take action on live exports but nothing has happened. This Halloween, a spooky parade of ‘zombie sheep and calves’ marched to DEFRA’s offices in London to hand in the signatures. These ‘zombie animals’ represent those who have died during transport, coming back from the dead to haunt DEFRA, to remind them of their promise to end live exports.

In 2017, tens of thousands of sheep and young calves were exported from the UK to continental Europe on long journeys that result in immense suffering. Many of these animals are kept in over-crowded conditions without enough food, water, or space to move, and often face an inhumane slaughter at their final destination.

“The true horror of live transport is absolutely shocking,” explained Downton Abbey actor and Compassion Patron, Peter Egan who participated in the event and has actively supported the campaign. “It’s appalling that we allow such cruelty to continue.”

This week, the streets between DEFRA and Parliament were truly haunted when we joined forces with, 38 Degrees, Avaaz and SumOfUs, to deliver over one million petition signatures to DEFRA, urging the Minister for the Environment, Michael Gove, to #StopLiveTransport

A chilling reminder

Last May, the government pledged to take action on live exports but nothing has happened. This Halloween, a spooky parade of ‘zombie sheep and calves’ marched to DEFRA’s offices in London to hand in the signatures. These ‘zombie animals’ represent those who have died during transport, coming back from the dead to haunt DEFRA, to remind them of their promise to end live exports.

In 2017, tens of thousands of sheep and young calves were exported from the UK to continental Europe on long journeys that result in immense suffering. Many of these animals are kept in over-crowded conditions without enough food, water, or space to move, and often face an inhumane slaughter at their final destination.

“The true horror of live transport is absolutely shocking,” explained Downton Abbey actor and Compassion Patron, Peter Egan who participated in the event and has actively supported the campaign. “It’s appalling that we allow such cruelty to continue.”

Growing public pressure

Nick Palmer, our Head of Compassion in World Farming UK, said: “This delivery of over one million signatures, highlights growing public pressure to end this barbaric practice. The live transport of animals on long, exhausting journeys, in horrendous conditions is not acceptable.

“It’s time for the UK government to enforce a UK-wide ban on live exports for slaughter and further fattening.”

Take action

You may have seen the news that unweaned Scottish calves are now being trucked to Kent for export. In the face of this appalling trade, we must keep up the pressure from every angle. Please email Michael Gove, Defra Secretary of State, today.

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

EU: Industrial Farming Budget Is Now Being Prepared. Add Your Voice To Make Things Better – Please Sign The Open Letter.

 

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Industrial farming kills bees with pesticides, over-fertilises our fields, and tortures animals in factory farms. And yet, it is subsidised with €59 billion every year from our taxes. [1] What more? This is the biggest part of the EU budget! [2]

Right now, politicians are discussing how to redistribute this money. Will future subsidies go to farmers who feed us healthy food and treat animals humanely? Or will it remain as bad as it is now?

Thousands of us, farmers and consumers, from Malta to Aarhus, from Warsaw to Madrid, will come together next weekend in days of action. We’ll protest, we’ll cook sustainable food for the public, we’ll teach about sustainable farming and we’ll demand a U-turn away from harmful farming practices.

Today we’re launching an open letter, which we will publish in a press release on Friday to open the action days. We need a great big boom for the start: 100,000 signatures, in order to show the media and decision-makers that we, Europeans, care about our food and our farming. Please sign now.

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I want to be one of the 100,000 – I’ll sign the open letter

At last, some of the European Ministers of Agriculture are realising the disaster happening before our eyes: insects, pollinators of our plants and nourishment for birds, are vanishing. [3] The German government, for instance, is discussing a program to protect insects. The Ministry for the Environment wants to spend €100 million per year on the program (great!), but the Minister of Agriculture is not in favour of it. [4] €100 million is a lot of money, but it’s a tiny amount compared to €59 billion that industrial farming gets from the EU. Instead of taking decisive action, they are spending their time bickering! This sort of thing is happening all over the EU.

But this arguing also shows we have an opportunity. Some politicians are open to our call for better farming. But others still aren’t listening. That is why we chose a pot and a spoon as symbols for the campaign: We will bang one against another and make enough noise to be heard.

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In another three weeks we will repeat our action, this time in Brussels. We will show up in front of the building where EU Ministers of Agriculture will meet to decide about the future of our food. We’ll bring vegetables, pots, pans and cutlery with us. We’ll cook for the politicians, we’ll make noise, and we’ll deliver the demands of European citizens for a U-turn against harmful industrial agriculture.

Sign the open letter

Agricultural policy is a hotly contested issue because of the massive amounts of money involved. The proposed EU budget for the next seven years provides far too much money for industrial agriculture and far too little money for more sustainable farming and environmental protection. It’s time for governments to put the public interest before the interest of big business.

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The past year has shown us that we can prevail against the lobby of the big agricultural industry. Just last year, our community and our partners managed to cut the length of the license for the toxic pesticide glyphosate down to only five years, when EU politicians wanted 15!

Your signature shows that we care about food and farming: We want our daily bread to be healthy, we want our farmers to prosper and we want animals to be treated humanely.

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Sign the open letter

From kitchens and farmlands (and offices) all over Europe,

Mika (Bordeaux), Jörg (Lübeck), Virginia (Madrid), and the rest of us at WeMove.EU

PS: Whenever we eat something, we depend on the agricultural industry. Our food can only be as good as the agricultural model with which it’s produced. For us and for our environment, let’s grow our food in ways that reduce waste, reduce the amount of toxic chemicals, and promote a resilient and diverse food and farming system.

Sign the open letter now.

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References:
[1] https://www.politico.eu/article/central-europes-big-farms-cry-foul-over-eu-commission-funding-cuts-phil-hogan/
[2] https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/sites/agriculture/files/cap-post-2013/graphs/graph1_en.pdf
[3] https://www.truthdig.com/articles/insects-are-vanishing-at-an-alarming-rate-new-study-finds/
[4] https://www.archyworldys.com/ministry-of-the-environment-100-million-against-insect-deaths/ and http://www.taz.de/!5542911/

 

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

EU: Live Animal Transport -Reg 1/2005 Has Failed The Animals From The Start.

We have personally been involved with live animal transport issues in Europe for 25+ years.

We know that Reg 1/2005 has failed the animals from the very start – and so you could say that the EU Commission has also been failing animals in transport from the very start.

To see a bit about our own past involvement with the live animal transport business. Please check out our info at  https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/about-us/  – scroll down quite  a way to see our own battles with a useless EU.

Here is a message from Silvia at Animals Angels.. who are based in Germany.

We want to thank Silvia for her info and the video which we have repeated below.  I am sure you will find it interesting.

It goes without saying that we give our full support to Angels and as individual welfare groups right across the EU, we work hard to expose the failures of the legislation 1/2005.

Please watch the video and see how the mighty EU Commission is failing anima;ls in transport.

Regards Mark.

 

 

Silvia says:

 

Dear Mark,

I hope this email finds you well.

 

On the 6th of September this year, we presented the premiere of a new film of Animals´ Angels in Brussels, at the EU Parliament. The video summarizes 10 years spent on the roads collecting data about the conditions of transported animals, after having interviewed some experts. The aim was to make the point of 10 years of application of Regulation EC 1/2005, analyzing what has been achieved and what remains to do. The final balance is very bitter. It is crystal clear that the original intention of the Council of EU has been betrayed. As you know, too many animals continue to travel crammed in trucks and ships over longer and longer distances. Animals´ Angels asked the EU Commission to take a stand and be faithful to its duties as “the guardian of EU laws”. A limit must be set to profit.  

To know more, please watch our recently published video “10 years of Regulation EC 1/2005 – Animals’ Angels field experience 2007-2017”: www.animals-angels.de/10-jahre

More than a million EU citizens already expressed their opposition to long animal transports already twice. Pressure of public opinion is a powerful means to demand EU institutions and governments a change. Please, help us spreading knowledge about animal transports.

Kindest regards,

Silvia