Millions of live animals – pigs, horses, cows, sheep, lambs, chickens – are still being transported over long distances on European roads, sometimes for several days, only to be killed on arrival.

1,103,248 citizens signed the eight-hour petition, and the European Parliament adopted Written Declaration 49/2011, which calls on the EU institutions to establish a maximum eight-hour limit on the journeys of animals transported for the purpose of slaughter.

Last September, together with eight Maltese animal welfare organisations, we organised an international conference in Valletta to denounce the fact that John Dalli – the then EU Commissioner for Health and Consumers – had refused to propose changes to the European rules on live animal transport. Following Mr Dalli’s resignation, Dr Tonio Borg, now responsible for animal welfare in the EU, is maintaining the same position: merely a focus on enforcement. Some of those rules have been in place for over 20 years and have never been enforced!

Different journey times might be adopted for different species, but Dr Borg is simply opposing this opportunity to shield millions of animals from easily avoidable suffering.

The end of long-distance live transport of animals sent for slaughter in the EU is one of the easiest legislative measures to adopt in order to stop a huge number of animal suffering, if the political willingness is there. Maltese politicians – and the Maltese electorate – can play a key role in making it happen.

Christa Blanke and Adolfo Sansolini

President and Founder Coordinator

Animals’ Angels

LONDON

FRANKFURT

www.8hours.eu