⏱️ This is our chance to limit animal transport.

Soon, Members of the European Parliament will vote on the recommendations of the special inquiry committee for Animal Transport (ANIT). We want to include an absolute maximum time limit of eight hours for the transport of live animals - and an even shorter time limit for young animals.

This is our chance to put an end to this cruel system of dragging animals all over Europe in horrible conditions.

We’re asking for:

• A complete ban on transporting unweaned animals younger than 5 weeks
• 2 hours of maximum transport time for unweaned animals older than 5 weeks
• 8 hours of maximum transport time by air and road
• 24 hours of maximum transport time by sea
• A ban on exporting animals to countries outside the EU which don’t respect EU animal welfare standards

But we need to do this together. We need you to ask MEPs from other political groups to support our demands.

Send your MEPs an email and ask them to support the maximum of 8 hours for animal transport. Use our tool to select the MEPs from your country that have not yet decided which way they will vote. If you’re in a rush, we’ve even prepared an email for you.

Frequently Asked Questions 👇

Isn't there a maximum of 8 hours already?

The Animal Transport Regulation 1/2005 differentiates between “short-term transport” up to 8 hours and “long-term transport” over 8 hours. In order to transport animals over 8 hours some additional comforts, like better bedding, have to be provided but there is no law restricting operators from transporting animals over 8 hours.

The European Parliament called for a maximum of 8 hours for transport of animals to slaughter in 2019. Some EU Member States have taken this up in national law but European legislation still allows for transports up to 29 hours at a time.

What about shipping?

The current regulation sets no time limit for transporting animals at sea. Journeys can last for days, weeks or even months. The European Court of Justice ruled that EU animal welfare law has to be enforced until the place of destination. However, once animals are on the ships, there is no way of checking the conditions. This is why we demand a 24 hour maximum journey time for sea transports, as well as the mandatory presence of a veterinarian on board every vessel and a ban on animal export to countries which do not respect EU animal welfare standards.

What will happen after this vote?

The European Commission has announced that it will publish its proposal for a new animal transport regulation in 2023 based on the findings of the ANIT committee. This is why we need the ANIT committee report to be as ambitious as possible. We need to show the European Commission that European citizens demand better animal welfare during transport.