Liz Lynne MEP hands horse welfare petition to the European Commission (Stone Liberal Democrats)

Stone Liberal Democrats <info@stonelibdems.org.uk>

Liz Lynne MEP hands horse welfare petition to the European Commission

October 1, 2009 12:27 PM
Originally published by Liz Lynne MEP

LibDem Euro MP Liz Lynne today hosted a reception in the European Parliament at which a petition, signed by over 120,000 EU citizens, was handed over to the European Commission calling for action to be taken to ensure the implementation of EU animal welfare rules that apply to the long distance transportation of horses.

Currently, over 100,000 horses are transported long-distance across the Continent to slaughter every year in inhumane conditions, causing exhaustion, dehydration, injury and death. Liz Lynne has long campaigned for better conditions for the horses and has tabled a written declaration in the Parliament to push for an end to the needless suffering.

Commenting on today's event Liz said: "I was delighted to be able to host a reception in the European Parliament to ensure that this petition could be formally handed to the European Commission.

There is now overwhelming evidence showing EU rules meant to protect the welfare of horses during long distance transport are being flouted, resulting in inhumane conditions."

"Horses are being packed like sardines into steel lorries where temperatures can be above 40 degrees and might be transported for thousands of miles with no food or water, causing injury or even death.

"It is vital we keep up the pressure to ensure that existing rules aimed at improving conditions for these horses are properly enforced, with punishments to match.

"I would urge people who are concerned to write to their MEP and ask them to sign my written declaration in the Parliament on this issue which will help to end the unnecessary suffering these animals are subjected to."

ENDS

Notes: Please find below the text of the written declaration tabled by Liz below.

Written declaration on the transportation of horses for slaughter in the European Union

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas approximately 100, 000 horses are annually transported unnecessarily long distances under inhumane conditions into and across the European Union for slaughter,

B. whereas there is well-documented evidence that horses are being transported over long distances, causing a variety of welfare problems such as serious injury, disease, exhaustion and dehydration, due to the inadequacies of the existing legislation,

C. whereas there is strong evidence that Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations has not been robustly enforced,

D. whereas a review of Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 is being carried out by the Commission,

1. Notes the petition collected by World Horse Welfare on the long distance transportation of horses to slaughter in Europe ;

2. Calls on the Commission and Member States to effectively scrutinise World Horse Welfare's dossier of evidence in the context of the Commission's review of Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005;

3. Urges Member States and the European Commission to robustly enforce Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005;

4. Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the Council, the Commission, and the parliaments and government of the Member States.

People can still help World Horse Welfare Make A Noise, by sending a postcard directly to the President of the European Commission. These can be obtained by calling 01953 497226 or by visiting www.worldhorsewelfare.org