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

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

This Order revokes and re-enacts with modifications the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order (Northern Ireland) 1994 and other animal welfare legislation, which together with that Order implemented Council Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport (O.J. No. L340, 11.12.91, p. 17). This Order implements that Directive as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EEC (O.J. No. L18, 30.6.95, p. 52).

The Order makes general provision for the welfare of animals during transport. It includes provisions as to the means of transport or receptacles used (Article 4), the amount of space available to each animal (Article 5) and the fitness of animals to travel (Article 6). It requires animals that fall ill or are injured during transport to be treated (Article 7).

The Order contains requirements on the feeding and watering of animals before and during a journey and on journey times and rest periods (Article 8). It requires persons who transport animals in the course of business to ensure that animals are accompanied by a person possessing appropriate knowledge and the ability to safeguard their welfare (Article 9). Further duties on transporters are set out (Article 10).

The Order requires compliance with the guidelines issued under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (“CITES”) and the standards set by the International Air Transport Association (“IATA”) (Article 11). Copies of the relevant documents can be obtained from—

• IATA, Tabmag Publishing Limited, Grove House, 31-37 Church Road, Ashford, Middlesex TW15 2UE.

• Freight Merchandising Services, c/o Vidap Freight Services, Green Lane, Hounslow, Middlesex TW4 6DD.

• Label Line, Hollyhouse, 14 Tenby Road, Frimley, Surrey GU16 5UT.

• CITES, Department of the Environment, Tollgate House, Houlton Street, Bristol BS2 9DJ.

The Order makes provision for the licensing of transporters to transport vertebrate animals on journeys over 50 kilometres (Article 12). It requires route plans for certain journeys and other documentation where no route plan is required (Articles 13 and 14) and excepts certain journeys from certain of its provisions (Article 15). The Order also contains requirements relating to the transport of animals to and from third countries (Article 16).

Inspectors of the Department of Agriculture may require compliance with the provisions of the Order and, if necessary, may stop a journey. Inspectors may take into account a previous failure to comply with this Order, including a failure to submit a route plan, in exercising these powers (Article 17).

Owners or charterers of vessels used to transport animals are required to produce on demand to an inspector of the Department of Agriculture information which may include a plan of the vessel (Article 18).