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

Special provisions for vehicles

6.—(1) Every ramp which is carried on or forms part of a vehicle and which is used for the purpose of loading animals into or unloading animals out of that vehicle shall be fitted with suitable foot battens or some other means of affording a proper foothold to an animal which is using it and shall be constructed. maintained and operated—

(a) to prevent slipping;

(b) so that it is not too steep for the age and species of the animal being transported;

(c) so that any step at the top or bottom of the ramp is not too high for the age and species of the animal being transported; and

(d) so that any gap between the top of the ramp and the vehicle at the bottom of the ramp is not too wide for the age and species of the animal being transported.

(2) It shall be sufficient compliance with sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) where animals other than pigs are using the ramp if—

(i) the gradient thereof is not steeper than a ratio of 4 in 7 when the vehicle is on level ground;

(ii) any step at the top of the ramp does not exceed 21cm in height; and

(iii) any gap between the top of the ramp and the vehicle or at the bottom of the ramp does not exceed 6cm in width; and

(b) where pigs are using the ramp if—

(i) the gradient thereof is not steeper than a ration of 1 in 2 when the vehicle is on level ground;

(ii) any step at the top of the ramp does not exceed 13cm in height; and

(iii) any gap between the top of the ramp and the vehicle or at the bottom of the ramp does not exceed 3cm in width.

(3) In this paragraph, a ramp shall be considered too steep, a step shall be considered too high and a gap shall be considered too wide, if animals using the ramp, step or gap are likely to be caused injury or unnecessary suffering by reason of the slope of the ramp, the height of the step or the width of the gap.