Assuring Quality and Welfare at Control Posts: a European Perspective

Abstract

In this paper various welfare aspects of long distance transport of animal are introduced. Scientific evidence is presented together with ethical and public concerns, as well as enforcement problems with examples from current practice and research. The on-going project on ‘Renovation and promoting high quality control posts in the European Union’ is presented as it foresees a significant improvement of the equipment as well as the management of 12 Control Posts (CPs) located at the cross roads of important flows of animals transported over long journeys in the EU. The aim is to conclude with a model to assure quality and welfare during all phases of long distance transport and mainly when animals are uploaded and housed at a control post.

Keywords

• animal transport
• control posts
• quality assurance
• welfare