The tragic status quo

Every year millions of animals are transported live from the EU to third countries where they are slaughtered. One may think that slaughter is the worst experience that sentient beings are subjected to, but the long journey to the slaughterhouse is also a living hell in itself.

The EU law that should protect animals during transport is weak and systematically violated. Transport by sea is by far where most law violations are recorded. Animals are routinely kept in overcrowded conditions and for most of the voyages old and rusty former cargo ships are used, putting both the animals and maritime safety at high risk.

In such conditions, it is not uncommon for some animals to perish in transit, and in the worst disasters thousands die. In 2019 more than 14,000 sheep destined for export drowned when the cargo ship carrying them capsized in Romania’s Black Sea port of Midia.

Once the destination is reached the animals are no longer protected by EU law: anything can be done to them. Innumerable investigations have demonstrated the harrowing treatment the animals receive on their arrival. At this stage of the trade, EU authorities can’t any longer prevent violence from happening as these sentient beings get classified as “sold goods” in the hands of their buyers.

Vulnerable animals, such as those that are pregnant, unweaned or very old animals are also transported without any special care appropriate to their condition. Baby animals can still be transported from the age of 4 weeks or even younger, suffering hunger, thirst and thermal stress that heavily impact their vulnerable immune system, which is not yet properly developed. Nor will any special care be given to pregnant animals, who sometimes end up giving birth in terrible conditions on board vehicles or ships, resulting in the death of both mothers and babies.