IHWT CALLS FOR AN END TO THE LONG DISTANCE TRANSPORT OF HORSES ACROSS EUROPE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SLAUGHTER
CURRENT SITUATION TODAY
Every year, 100,000 horses are transported in horrific conditions across Europe for the purpose of slaughter. The terrible conditions endured during these long journeys often mean that horses travel for long periods of time without rest, food or water, suffer from disease, dehydration, exhaustion and injury. These journeys are not only inhumane but are totally unnecessary. The infrastructure already exists to make slaughter at source and a carcase only trade possible.
One slaughter route through Europe that has been identified by the U.K. charity, World Horse Welfare, passes 180 licensed horse slaughter yards before reaching its final destination. Horses should be slaughtered as close to the point of origin as possible and transported as meat, not forced to endure days of suffering. It also makes better economic sense to have horses slaughtered in their country of origin.
ADOPTION OF WRITTEN DECLARATION 54/2009
Thank you to all who wrote to their MEPs asking them to support Written Declaration 54/2009. Thank you also to all the MEPs who got involved and gave their support. Your hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated.
In February Written Declaration 54/2009 was adopted with 405 MEPs giving their support. Click here for full list of signatories. The mandate is to review the current regulation, and also to see stringent enforcement. The current legislation, EU Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 has serious deficiencies and some Member States do not rigorously enforce it, resulting in exhaustion, injury, pain and stress among horses who make these unnecessary journeys.
It is obvious that the best practice from a Welfare perspective ensures that enforceable and effective regulation is introduced, to underpin progressive policy to ensure a short, finite journey limit and increased space allowance so that horses no longer suffer needlessly.
SEND A SIGNAL TO EUROPE TO SAY THAT IRELAND NO LONGER SUPPORTS THIS TRADE
Many people are unaware that every year hundreds of horses leave Ireland only to be transported to a slaughter house somewhere in mainland Europe. The conditions under which they are transported are not properly regulated and many of our horses are suffering unnecessarily. So although this is an international welfare issue, it also affects many of our own horses.
The adoption of the Declaration means that the issue of long-distance transportation of horses for the purpose of slaughter in Europe is now high on the political agenda. It is important to keep pressure on our MEPs and key influencers. Please keep writing and e-mailing your MEPs and in particular John Dalli, the new European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy who is responsible for any amendments to the legislation covering the transport of horses to slaughter. Click here for John Dalli’s contact details. Click here to download a template letter.
The remedy to the problem lies in:
1.The introduction of short, finite journey limits.
2.The introduction of adequate space allowances which take into account the wide variety of ages, types and sizes of horse which are transported to slaughter.
3.Improved welfare standards, through simple improvements to vehicle design.
4.Immediate and robust enforcement. The deficiencies in the current Regulation mean that enforcement alone cannot solve these problems but it would alleviate them until an improved Regulation comes into force to finally deal with them.
5.These measures would protect the welfare of the horses being transported to slaughter, the health of the wider European horse population, and consumers of horsemeat.
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE RIGHT NOW
1. Write to your MEPs and thank them for their help with Written Declaration 54/2009. Ask them to get more involved with the campaign. MEPs are elected to be your voice in Europe and can influence policy. You can find out who your MEPs are by visiting www.europarl.ie
2. Many MEPs now use Facebook and Twitter, so you can get in touch with them this way about and ask them to support this campaign.
3. Write to the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli. Click here for John Dalli's contact details. He is responsible for any amendments made to the legislation covering the transport of horses to slaughter (Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005). Download a template letter now.
4. Spread the word about the success of Written Declaration – let all of your friends and family know! Pass on the message to your friends in Europe and ask them to get involved.
5. Write to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso asking him to stop this unnecessary suffering. Click here for José Manuel Barroso’s contact details.
You can find out who your MEPs are by visiting www.europarl.ie.
