Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997

Accompaniment of vertebrate animals by competent persons

9.—(1) Any transporter who is transporting vertebrate animals on a journey of over 50 kilometres shall ensure that the animals are accompanied throughout the journey by at least one competent person.

(2) In this Article a competent person is a person who—

(a) has either specific training or equivalent practical experience qualifying him to handle and transport vertebrate animals and to administer, if necessary, appropriate care; and

(b) has sufficient knowledge of and abilities in the matters set out in Schedule 8 to enable him to safeguard the welfare of the animals being transported.

(3) Paragraphs (4) to (6) shall apply only in relation to a journey beginning after 1st September 1998 which involves the transport of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats or horses either in a vehicle for a journey lasting eight hours or more or by another means of transport irrespective of the length of the journey.

(4) In the case of a person who has specific training, that person shall have a qualification relating to the welfare of animals during transport approved by the Department.

(5) In the case of a person who has practical experience equivalent to specific training, that person shall have been assessed, using a method approved by the Department, to ensure that that person has the necessary ability, competence and knowledge qualifying him to handle and transport and, if necessary, administer appropriate care to the animals being transported, and the result of that assessment shall be recorded in writing and a copy given to the person who has been assessed.

(6) The transporter shall keep a copy of the record of the assessment carried out under paragraph (5) throughout the time that that person is engaged by him on journeys accompanying animals, and for a period of six months thereafter and shall produce it on demand to an inspector.

(7) In the case of a transporter authorised in another member State, it shall be sufficient that the person accompanying the animals has satisfied the requirements on competence of that member State.