TORY MEP WELCOMES VICTORY IN FIRST BATTLE IN MAKING CRUEL LONG DISTANCE HORSE TRANSPORT TO SLAUGHTER ACROSS EUROPE A THING OF THE PAST
Posted, February 12, 2010 @ 00:00
Strasbourg 12 February 2009. South West MEP Julie Girling gave her support to a World Horse Welfare initiative that wants to end the cruel long distance transport to slaughter of Europe's most vulnerable horses.
Julie, along with more than half of the European Parliament's MEPs has signed a written declaration calling for an urgent review of EU legislation governing the welfare of animals during transport to slaughter. A Written Declaration is similar to a House of Commons Early Day Motion. It will now become a formal resolution of the parliament - possibly resulting in the European Commission coming forward with legislative proposals.
Currently some 100,000 horses a year are being transported across Europe to slaughter without rest, food or water. These journeys are inhumane and totally unnecessary. The charity World Horse Welfare brought the resolution forward and, working closely with Julie, secured the necessary signatures today.
In a statement Julie said,
"I am delighted at the support we have secured in the Parliament for this resolution. As an MEP it was a pleasure to work with the committed and well organised people at World Horse Welfare. It is public action like this that makes politics so rewarding.
"Like most British people I am a horse lover. I'm sure that the vast majority of us baulk at the manner in which horses can be transported across the continent.
"Latest figures estimate that 100,000 horses are transported in atrocious conditions across Europe to slaughter. Imagine a 12 hour journey from Bulgaria or Romania to Italy often without rest, water or food in the stifling heat. Journeys such as these are inhumane and can lead to exhaustion, injury, pain suffering and stress.
"Most of these journeys are completely unnecessary as slaughter facilities exist across Europe, so why are these horses being moved around like this? Within the UK, transporting a horse in a way that is detrimental to its welfare is a breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Act states that a person commits an offence if they are responsible for an animal, either permanently or temporarily and cause the animal to suffer, or fail to ensure its need are met.
"I have given my support to urgently review and change this legislation to make these loopholes a thing of the past. Now we have the resolution in place I will be keeping up the pressure on the Commission to act and act quickly to get existing legislation toughened up."