Today, we joined forces with a number of NGOs in writing to the EU Commission and Stena Line Ferries calling on them to immediately stop the unlawful transport of unweaned calves from Ireland to France.

Ireland exports tens of thousands of unweaned calves to other EU Member States each year, some just two or three weeks old. So far this year, 158,000 calves have been exported from Ireland to France and then on to other EU countries including the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Romania, Poland, Hungary and Croatia.

Calves starved on journeys of over a day

Calves have a daily need for energy and protein. As they have undergone a forced separation from their mother, they will ordinarily be fed milk replacer. However, these long journeys by road and sea can take 27 hours or longer and during this time it is not possible for them to be fed.

In its audit dated 22 December 2023, the European Commission made it clear that in its view the transport of unweaned calves from Ireland to France is being carried out in breach of Regulation 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport.

Letter to Commission calls for immediate action

The Commission interprets the Regulation as requiring unweaned calves to be fed during the long sea crossing by roll-on roll-off (RORO) ferry from Ireland to France. However, it is not possible to feed unweaned calves while they are on a truck which is on board a RORO ferry.

Our letter calls for immediate action to address this breach. It is signed by our international team and offices in France and the Netherlands along with a number of other NGOs including Eurogroup for Animals, the RSPCA, World Animal Protection and Four Paws.

Second letter urges Stena Lines to stop carrying unweaned calves

We have also written to ferry company Stena Line Ferries urging them to stop carrying these unweaned calves from Ireland to France.

In 1994 Stena received widespread praise for its welcome decision to stop carrying farmed animals destined for slaughter or fattening on its route from southern England to continental Europe. This was the beginning of the end of the live export trade from Great Britain – which was banned earlier this year.

Our Chief Policy Advisor, Peter Stevenson said: “The European Food Safety Authority produced a scientific opinion in 2022 recommending that the maximum interval time between feed for unweaned calves is twelve hours. We know this is not possible on these long journeys from Ireland to France and that, as a result, the European Commission’s audit takes the view that the journeys are in breach of EU animal welfare legislation.

“We urge the Commission to take immediate action on this, and for Stena Lines to demonstrate leadership and compassion in stopping the transport of these vulnerable young animals altogether,” he concluded.