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Guide to transporting animals - Sheep farmer publishes DVD to help producers find their way through new legislation
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| The Be Legal guide to transporting animals by road |
IN January 2007 a new animal welfare transport law was introduced across the European Union. Although similar to previous legislation there is much more emphasis on paperwork - authorisations, vehicle approvals and certificates of competence.
Some animal transport activity is exempt from the new law; "non-commercial" movement, transport of individual animals and transport to and from the vets. The transport exemptions on individual animals and movement to the vets are straightforward. The definition of "non-commercial" is more difficult however. Defra guidance is clear that hobby farmers and are not considered "non commercial" in that there is usually some trade in surplus product eggs, meat milk or surplus animals. Even if you do consider a journey to be exempt from the specific transport rules you still need to ensure your "duty of care" under general animal welfare law.
In practice the vast majority of smallholders are going to have to comply with the basics - the eight general conditions. These are eight broad statements of principle which cover all the elements of transport including vehicle construction, fitness to travel and space allowance. If you are transporting your own animals in your own vehicle for less than 50km from the farm only these eight conditions apply.
Transport over 50km (30 miles) but less than 65km (40miles) - over 50km the technical rules of the regulation come into force. If you occasionally transport animals this distance or think you might at some time in the future it is worth knowing the rules you have to work to. This is particularly important when it comes to the vehicle. Adapting to the specifics on space allowances or fitness to travel is easy but if your vehicle does not comply with the construction standard then you won't be able to use it.
Over 65km but less than eight hours - over 65km the technical rules apply and you need to have two important pieces of paper. Firstly, a Type 1 authorisation which if you haven't already applied for you should do straight away - it been a legal requirement since April last year. This authorisation puts an obligation on the person who holds it to make sure anyone working on their behalf is familiar with the law. Authorisations need to be with you when animals are moved; so it's worth making a few copies to keep permanently in all the vehicles used.
If you need a Type 1 authorisation then from 5 January 2008 drivers transporting horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry also need a certificate of competence. Because of the recent outbreaks of Avian Influenza, FMD and Blue Tongue the enforcement of this requirement is being extended until the end of April 2008. In the UK this is a "theory only" test for people that are moving animals over 65km but for less than eight hours. The test is set nationally by the National Proficiency Test Council but there are no rules on where or how you prepare yourself for that test.
Animal-i Ltd has produced a self-learning DVD to help guide producers through the legislation and prepare for the competence test.
Miriam Parker, part-time sheep farmer and director of Animal-i, said, "I realise how difficult it is for people to get away to take part in any training courses. If there are several members of the family that need to do the test then it starts to look like a serious cost not just in terms of money but more importantly time. The idea of the DVD is that people can sit down in their own time and watch it. You can watch as much or as little as you want depending on what time you have.
"Of course, if the DVD just went through the legislation it would be like watching paint dry, so we have included lots more interesting material like pictures of livestock trailers in a wind tunnel to show airflow and ventilation. It's this information, which explains some of the science behind good practice, which has really captured people's interest."
"Be legal - a guide to transporting animals by road" covers all the main farmed species, the eight general conditions as well as all the technical rules. The disc will play in either a computer or the TV and there are instructions on how to get started if you have not used DVD before.
Each DVD pack contains a "map" to help you find all the different pieces of information, a pocket guide to stocking densities, a wipe clean wallet to hold your paperwork and a pass code which allows you to access the Animal-i website to practice test questions or calculate ramp angles.
Contact info.: 01933 272400; info@animal-i.com; www.animal-i.com.
RRP £19.99; Special offer to "Smallholder" readers: £14.99 on all orders placed before the end of April 2008 - quote 08SHLIZ when placing the order. Orders: online at: www.animal-i.com; telephone: 0845 38 99 777
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