Brussels, 03.12.21. On the occasion of the vote of the Committee of Inquiry into the Protection of Animals during Transport (ANIT) on new guidelines for animal transport, ÖDP MEP Manuela Ripa has once again spoken out clearly in favor of clearer rules and better animal welfare. "We need a clear limitation of transport times to a maximum of eight hours," she emphasized, adding: "Until now, animals have been allowed to be transported for up to 29 hours, sometimes in very confined spaces, and no living creature should have to endure that."

Numerous improvements for the situation of animals during future transports were agreed in the ANIT Committee, but it was precisely the limitation of the maximum duration that did not receive a majority. ÖDP MEP Ripa commented: "The resolution does not go far enough. As the Greens/EFA group, we now hope that the Parliament will once again clearly advocate for more specifics and better protection for animals in plenary.

The parliamentary plenary vote is scheduled for January 2022. The EU Parliament set up the ANIT Committee last December. It is tasked with monitoring possible breaches of animal transport regulations and ensuring that the Commission enforces the directives properly.

Manuela Ripa is committed to ensuring that animal transportation is generally avoided wherever possible. "Priority should urgently be given to pasture slaughter or slaughter on site," emphasizes the Ecological Democratic Party MP. "It should be the meat that is transported, not the live animal. We must work to improve and facilitate the possibilities of on-site slaughter. Discussions with farmers have revealed numerous obstacles that urgently need to be removed," concluded Ripa.

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