Animal Transportation Association

EU Legislative Interests

Participation in the Revision of EU Animal Welfare Legislation on Airfreight and Airport Handling Our organisation is actively participating in the European Union’s revision of animal welfare legislation, focusing on the air transport of live animals and the handling of these animals at airports during loading, unloading, and transit. This involvement reflects our commitment to ensuring that animal transport is conducted safely, humanely, and efficiently, based on current scientific knowledge and best practices. The main EU legislation governing animal welfare during transport is Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations. This Regulation establishes that animals must be fit for travel, transported without unnecessary suffering, and handled by trained personnel using appropriate equipment. It requires proper journey planning, suitable space, ventilation, rest, and feeding, while loading and unloading must be performed carefully to avoid injury and stress. For air transport, the Regulation references the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations, which set technical standards for containers, temperature control, and ventilation. Recognising the need to update these rules, the European Commission presented in December 2023 a proposal for a new Regulation to replace Regulation 1/2005. The proposal seeks to improve welfare protection, modernise standards, and enhance enforcement. Its objectives include reducing long and stressful journeys, preventing exposure to extreme temperatures, and introducing digital systems for monitoring and traceability. Our organisation’s contribution focuses on the specific challenges of airfreight and airport operations, where animals are often exposed to delays, noise, handling by multiple operators, and limited facilities for rest or veterinary care. We are providing technical input to ensure that the revised Regulation fully addresses these areas. Our priorities include promoting proper airport infrastructure with temperature-controlled holding areas, clear handling standards for safe loading and unloading, improved container specifications based on IATA guidelines, and better monitoring through digital tracking and environmental sensors. We also advocate for specialised training for all airport and cargo personnel and stronger coordination between the EU and third countries to ensure consistent welfare standards worldwide. By engaging in this legislative process, we aim to ensure that animal welfare during air transport and airport handling is explicitly covered by the revised EU rules. Working closely with the European Commission, Member States, and industry stakeholders, we strive to build a regulatory framework that is practical, enforceable, and aligned with Europe’s high standards of animal protection.

Communication Activities

We hold an annual meeting for our members where we disvcuss all relevant issues concerning animal transport and welfare of animals during transport. We do not hold any formalised events only concerning EU legislation. We have a montly or bi monthly webinar where we discuss more pressing changes or new practices in animal transportation.

Interests Represented

Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members

Member Of

Interantion Air Transport Association International Pet and Animal Transportation Association

Organisation Members

https://www.animaltransportationassociation.org/uploaded_files/2041/custom/site_member_list_org.cfm

Additional Information

As we are an Association based on volunteers we dont have a set budget for the participation of members to EU tasks. The members that are based in Belgium are the ones that do most of the work. Transportation costs are kept to a minimum and the mebers are not compensated on a monetary basis.