1. Welcomes the Commission’s report on the impact of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, which concludes that the regulation has had beneficial effects as regards the welfare of animals during transport, but that severe animal welfare problems persist; regrets that the Commission does not intend to propose any changes to the EU’s legislation on animal transport; regrets that this report ignores recital 5 of the regulation, which states that ‘for reasons of animal welfare the transport of animals over long journeys should be limited as far as ...[+++] possible’;

Animals, including pets, travelling as cargo must also meet numerous conditions established by the airline industry itself. For example, the World Organization for Animal Health, OIE, recognizes the International Air Transport Association’s, IATA, live animals regulations as the international standard for live animal transport by air.

Question No. 310 Mr. Malcolm Allen: With respect to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) animal transportation inspection system and review of the animal transport regulations under the Part XII of the Health of Animals Regulations: (a) how many full-time CFIA inspectors are stationed across the country to inspect animal welfare and ensure compliance with Part XII of the Health of Animals Regulations; (b) what positions and titles do these inspectors hold; (c) how many of these inspectors hold the title or position of animal health inspector; (d) how many of these inspectors hold the t ...[+++]itle or position of multi-program inspector; and (e) do draft amendments or proposals to the animal transport regulations under the Health of Animals Regulations, Part XII, exist and, if so, what is the Agency’s timeframe for publishing those proposed changes in Part I of the Canada Gazette?

Therefore, the petitioners call upon the government to change the animal transport regulations under the Health of Animals Act to be consistent with the findings of the EU scientific committee on animal health, which is 8 hours and 12 hours, respectively.

It is calling on the House of Commons to amend the animal transport regulations under Canada's Health of Animals Act to be consistent with the findings of the EU scientific committee on animal health and welfare; to reduce transport time for pigs, poultry, horses, calves and lambs to 8 hours, and 12 hours for cattle, sheep and goats; and to ensure adequate enforcement of the regulations.

TRACES: Commission adopts new system to manage animal movements and prevent the spread of animal diseases