A CALL for the abolition of long distance transportation of animals has been made by the first European conference on the subject in Geneva.
The delegates, composed of elected representatives of many, European governments, MEPs and animal welfare groups, yesterday decided unanimously to press for the immediate ban on the live trade.
The delegates also drew up a list of demands, called "the 10 commandments" by the organiser, Mr Franz Weber, which will be made, on the European and national paftliaments for dramatic changes in current regulations.
The main demand from this high profile conference is for a change in the Treaty of Rome to alter the status of farm animals from commodity to that of living beings. The organisations are also demanding that there should be only one journey in any animal's life, to the slaughterhouse. This, the forum said, should not be any longer than three hours or 150km. If not being slaughtered immediately, the animals must be fed and watered at this time.
The delegates also voted for a total ban on all imports and exports of live animals from and to the EU. This was opposed by the Belgian parliamentary delegates who described it as "exotic" and unworkable.
The organisations involved are also seeking a ban on EU live export subsidies and say these should be transferred to the upgrading and building of slaughterhouses all over the EU.
They are also demanding that a special police force be set up, supplemented by veterinary inspectors, to police the transport of animals and that recognised welfare organisations should have the right to seize animals and equipment if breaches are found.
Mr Weber, Switzerland's fore most conservationist, told a press conference at the close of the session yesterday that the mandate for making such demands on Europe had come from members of national parliaments across the EU. The organisation had written to every member of parliament in the EU and had received 800 replies condemning the long distance transportation of animals.
While the information was not immediately to hand, a spokesman for the foundation said he had received approximately 12 positive replies from TDs.
"The time is right to move on this savage trade, and there is demand from the politicians and from the public to end it. And we will end it he said.
The conference, he added, had heard medical and veterinary evidence that the movement of animals over long distances was bad for both animal and human health, and consumers would be made aware of this.
He said the European Commission had been invited to attend the conference but was not represented. It would be receiving the demands drawn up by those who attended the conference.
Because the new EU regulations on transport must be in place by January 1st, much of the lobbying will be done in Ireland with Irish officials. Mr Weber hopes soon to meet the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, who will become president of the agriculture ministers on July 1st.
Mr Weber said he realised the difficulties facing Irish live exporters if such rules were put in place, but he said the EU could help. "The export refund money for live animals could be put towards upgrading slaughterhouses in Ireland and building new plants," he said.
While he accepted that Ireland had put in place strict regulations covering the export of animals, he said the trade itself, especially to north Africa, shamed the Irish people.
Mr Weber, who has a formidable record on such issues, said it was now a matter of when rather than if the live export ban would be put in place, and the EU should prepare for this.