Structural abuses in the transport of unweaned calves from Ireland to control posts near the French port of Cherbourg

Priority question for written answer P-001016/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Anja Hazekamp (The Left)

Calves are transported from Ireland to control posts in France for up to 50 hours from the age of just two to four weeks, in serious violation of the prescribed need to feed these animals in a timely manner[1][2].

Animal welfare organisations L214 and Eyes on Animals have repeatedly reported on mistreatment during the transport of calves from Ireland upon arrival at Cherbourg control posts[3][4]. Recently, footage was again taken of serious mistreatment of calves, during which sticks, paddles, crowd-control barriers and blows to the head came into play[5].

• 1.Does the Commission consider that the mistreatment of animals during transport or at control posts, as repeatedly observed at the Cherbourg control posts, is at odds with Regulation (EC) No 1/2005?
• 2.Given the serious breaches of animal welfare at the Cherbourg control posts, will the Commission urgently enter into discussions with the competent French authorities or take action itself to withdraw approval of these control posts, as required by the procedure set out in Article 31(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005[6]?
• 3.Can the Commission indicate what other steps it is taking before the revision of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 to ensure that milk-dependent calves are not transported by sea or over long distances?

Submitted: 24.3.2023

• [1] https://www.eyesonanimals.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/202203024_EXT_Transport-of-unweaned-calves-from-Ireland.pdf
• [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn7_A7ZhqiQ
• [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn7_A7ZhqiQ
• [4] https://www.l214.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Dossier_transport_veaux_nourrissons_L214.pdf
• [5] https://vimeo.com/810887324/cf1fc3ab84
• [6] Article 36, Regulation (EC) No 1/2005.