CARRIAGE OF ANIMALS

Carriage of Animals

Carriage of Animals

Introduction

This direction of animals by air has been prepared to assist with uniform application of Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations (The Regulation) as it applies to live animal shipments carried in aircraft. The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Regulation (NI) 2006 provides for enforcement of the Regulation, and other related provisions.

Enforcement of the Regulation is the responsibility of DARD Veterinary Service in Northern Ireland and Local Authorities (usually Trading Standards or Animal Health Officers) and the State Veterinary Service in GB.

Application

The Regulation is directly applicable, in all EU Member States, with effect from 5 January 2007.

Regulation only applies to transport “in connection with an economic activity” (Article 1.5) (commercial transport). Examples are given in part 1 of this guidance to assist with determination of the meaning of “economic activity”.

Transport of animals outside the scope of the Regulation is also regulated by the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 2006. The general principles of this guidance for air shipments should nevertheless be followed, as appropriate to the species, in order to comply with the requirement to protect the welfare of these animals during transport.

Responsibilities

Every person involved with the commercial transport of animals has a responsibility (Article 3) as appropriate to their role in planning, organising, and carrying out the journey - to comply with the Regulation and to protect the welfare of the animals, in particular not to cause them injury or undue suffering. In the case of air transport such responsibility may be broadly, but not exclusively, described as follows.

Animal shippers (i.e. those who arrange for animals to be transported from one place to another) must plan the journey and have contingency arrangements in place should any delay occur. Examples might be delayed loading onto the aircraft; or its late departure caused by adverse weather or mechanical failure. They must ensure that the animal container or aircraft fittings are suitable and conform to the appropriate IATA LAR Container Requirement, that the aircraft operator is prepared to carry live animals, and that water feed and rest intervals for the animals can be complied with. Enforcement of the Regulation is the responsibility of DARD Veterinary Service in Northern Ireland and Local Authorities (usually Trading Standards or Animal Health Officers) and the State Veterinary Service in GB.

Aircraft owners/charterers/operators must ensure that the aircraft has suitable facilities for transport of animals by air, and that the aircraft commander, loadmaster and aircrew (as appropriate) are competent in and have specific instructions for air transport of animals.

Commanders, and loadmasters and aircrew under their authority must ensure that the aircraft and equipment are suitable for carriage of the animals concerned in the manner intended. They must ensure that the animals are loaded, carried and unloaded in a way which will protect their welfare. In particular they must ensue that the animals are accommodated in accordance with the IATA LAR, and that an appropriate environment of air quality and quantity, temperature and pressure is ...