Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 lays down the minimum requirements for the transport of live vertebrate animals and requires that animals shall not be transported unless fit for the journey in conditions guaranteed not to cause injury or unnecessary suffering.

Article 1, Paragraph 1.

This Regulation shall apply to the transport of live vertebrate animals carried out within the Community, including the specific checks to be carried out by officials on consignments entering or leaving the customs territory of the Community. 

Article 2, Paragraph 1.

(…) ‘animals’ means live vertebrate animals

Article 15, Paragraph 2

In the case of long journeys between Member States and with third countries, the checks at the place of departure for fitness for transport, as referred to in Chapter 1 of Annex 1, shall be performed before the loading as part of the animal health checks as set out in the corresponding veterinary Community legislation, within the time limits provided by such legislation

Annex 1, Paragraph 1

No animal shall be transported unless it is fit for the intended journey, and all animals shall be transported in conditions guaranteed not to cause them injury or unnecessary suffering

Annex 1, Paragraph 4

When animals fall ill or are injured during transport, they shall be separated from the others and receive first-aid treatment as soon as possible. They shall be given appropriate veterinary treatment and if necessary undergo emergency slaughter or killing in a way which does not cause them any unnecessary suffering.

Livestock are transported for a number of reasons and in most cases this is an unfamiliar and threatening event in an animal’s life, which can lead to distress, injury or even death if not properly planned and executed. Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 specifies that no animal shall be transported unless it is fit for the intended journey, especially if the animal is injured or presents a physiological weakness or a pathological process. Currently no agreed scientific definition of the concept of fitness for transport exists but a number of welfare consequences have been identified as being highly relevant to the welfare during transport. In this Thematic factsheet, the biological needs, legal requirements and focus areas for inspection are described.

Livestock are transported for a number of reasons and in most cases this is an unfamiliar and threatening event in an animal’s life, which can lead to distress, injury or even death if not properly planned and executed. Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 specifies that no animal shall be transported unless it is fit for the intended journey. Currently no agreed scientific definition of the concept of fitness for transport exists but a number of welfare consequences have been identified as being highly relevant to the welfare during transport. In the Indicator factsheets methods for assessing whether ruminants or equids are fit for transportation and recommendations for inspection are described.