This weekend, Animals‘ Angels trails a transport carrying early-weaned piglets. The piglets are initially loaded at two different collecting points in Germany before they are transported to a slaughterhouse in Spain.
As this transport route is well known to us we met with the competent veterinary authorities in December last year to address the violations against transport regulation 01/2005 that we have been assessing here. The main issues are loading density as well as the weight of the baby piglets that is, in some cases, most probably below 10 kg, making it illegal to transport them over long distance. Besides, at the second collecting point we noted that the required resting period for the animals was not complied with. Therefore, the collecting point should not have been apporved as place of dispatch for the following long distance transport to Spain.
Now, about one and a half month later, we are back to this route. This time, the truck complies with the madatory resting period at the collecting point – and even stays two hours longer than required. During the following short inspection in France, we are at least able to the see piglets in the lower deck. They seem to be bigger as last time and also the loading density seems to be lower – maybe a sign that the competent veterinary authority has acted upon our complaint and initiated first step to improve the conditions for the animals.
For us it is obvious to further be there with the piglets on this route and monitor whether all involved parties will now actually comply with the law. And, naturally, we will further fight for generally banning long distance transports!
