It’s showtime! Farmers from Monifieth to Melrose, Aboyne to Auchterarder will be sprucing up and inspecting their truck trailers ready to transport cattle and livestock to country shows the length and breadth of Scotland.
If this is you, it’s best to make sure you follow the rules on transporting animals so you don’t fall foul of the law.
Most shows will have their own mandatory rules and regulations in relation to transport and animal health. And The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 make it an offence, punishable by up to three months imprisonment and or a fine of up to £5,000, to flout the Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 (‘the Regulations’).
Whilst most of the regulations seem like common sense, it’s worth reviewing the key conditions to ensure compliance:
Ensure animals are fit for the journey and that they are not transported in a way which is likely to cause injury or undue suffering
Make necessary advance arrangements to minimise the journey time and meet any of the animals’ needs during their travels The means of transport should be designed in order to keep the animals safe, including sufficient height and floor space. For example, owners should not be moving a number of large horses in transport designed for a few sheep. There are a number of technical rules contained in Annex 1 of the Regulations relating to the means of transport and the technical requirements of the vehicles used.
Anyone handling animals should be competent or trained, not using violence and should transport the animals without delay, checking on the welfare regularly and offering water, feed and rest at suitable intervals
When moving animals, make sure the appropriate documentation - such as an independently assessed Certificate of Competence, for journeys over 65km - is held by the transporter, which they may be required to show to the authorities. In addition, animals must travel with an Animal Transport Certificate, which must show:
their origin and ownership
place, date and time of departure
intended destination
the expected duration of the intended journey
The Regulations set out planning obligations which include that the organiser of the journey contracts authorised transporters for the move. Someone must be identifiable as the responsible person for the move and organisers need to ensure the welfare of the animals are not compromised due to poor coordination of the journey. Although some exceptions apply, all transporters should hold authorisation for the transporting of animals, issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
The APHA is required to inspect the means of transport for journeys longer than eight hours, whether that be by road, rail or sea, and a certificate of approval must be obtained prior to the journey.
Not all of the obligations in the Regulations are on the owner or transporter, however.
The APHA also has a number of obligations, including approving transporter authorisations and long journey applications, as long as all information provided is to the required standard.
Although the Regulations are set out to ensure owners, transporters and animals have a safe journey, especially when travelling to the shows, breaches do sometimes occur.
If you have been charged with, or accused of, breaching any obligations contained in the Regulations, or have had applications to the APHA rejected, you should seek advice from a rural solicitor. A lawyer can also help ensure you take all the required steps before transporting your livestock, including assessing whether a Certificate of Competence is necessary; there is also a trove of useful advice and guidance on the Farm Advisory Service’s website at www.fas.scot.
By following the regulations and taking the necessary time to prepare your animals and transit vehicles for a smooth and comfortable journey, you’ll arrive at the shows ready to get the most out of these milestone events in the farming calendar.
