The EU’s Inadequate Handling of Sick Cattle Transport

Report of “Animal Welfare Foundation”
The European Union’s animal transport regulations are often touted as among the most stringent in the world. However, as the recent case of the Elbeik ship highlights, this is far from the reality on the ground. On February 13th, sick cattle from the EU were detained on board the Elbeik ship for almost two months, with the ship’s captain and crew struggling to find a suitable destination.

Key Facts	Details
Ship Name	Elbeik
Number of Cattle	1,800
Destination Country	Libya
Reason for Detention	Bluetongue virus detected in some animals

The situation on board the Elbeik ship is dire, with the captain and crew struggling to provide enough food and water for the remaining animals. This is a stark reminder of the EU’s inadequate handling of sick cattle transport. The fact that animals from the EU suspected of having the bluetongue virus were also detained on the ship Karim Allah in December highlights the need for more robust emergency plans.

“It’s a corrupt, animal-hostile corporation, nothing more.”
— Venus

The EU’s animal transport regulations are designed to protect animals from suffering during transport. However, it appears that these regulations are often ignored or circumvented. The case of the Elbeik ship demonstrates that the EU’s emergency plans are not effective in preventing the transportation of sick animals. In December, the ship Karim Allah was detained in Tripoli port after bluetongue virus was detected in some of the animals on board. The ship’s crew was forced to unload the affected animals, but the rest of the 895 calves were left to languish on the ship. The National Centre for Animal Health (NCAH) in Libya rejected the shipment due to its failure to meet the required health and veterinary standards. The NCAH had stated that it subjects all shipments of live animals imported from abroad to control, from the time they leave the country of origin until they reach the Libyan ports. The rejected shipment was the second in January, with the other shipment of 1,776 calves also being rejected due to health concerns.

Elbeik
Karim Allah

These cases highlight the need for the EU to take a more proactive approach in addressing the issue of sick cattle transport. The EU’s animal transport regulations are designed to protect animals, but it appears that these regulations are often ignored or circumvented. The biggest offense in this case is the transportation of sick animals for profit. The EU’s regulations are designed to protect animals from suffering during transport, but it appears that this protection is not being enforced. The fact that the animals were deemed healthy and fit for transport, despite being sick, is a clear breach of EU regulations. In the EU, which claims to be a civilized society, it is unacceptable that almost no one adheres to the animal transport regulations. The EU’s animal transport regulations are some of the best in the world, but they are not being enforced. We, at the Animal Welfare Foundation, believe that the EU should stop animal torture transports immediately. The transportation of sick animals for profit is a clear breach of animal welfare and EU regulations. Definition: Animal torture transport refers to the transportation of animals for the purpose of profit, despite their poor health or suffering. The situation on the Elbeik ship is a stark reminder of the need for the EU to take a more proactive approach in addressing the issue of sick cattle transport. We urge the EU to take immediate action to prevent the transportation of sick animals and to enforce its animal transport regulations. Highlights:
* The transportation of sick animals for profit is a clear breach of animal welfare and EU regulations. * The EU’s emergency plans are not effective in preventing the transportation of sick animals. Key Points:
* The Elbeik ship was carrying 1,800 cattle from the EU, with bluetongue virus detected in some of the animals. * The ship’s captain and crew were struggling to find a suitable destination for the animals. * The animals were deemed healthy and fit for transport, despite being sick. * The EU’s regulations are designed to protect animals from suffering during transport, but they are often ignored or circumvented. Recommendations:
* The EU should stop animal torture transports immediately. * The EU should take a more proactive approach in addressing the issue of sick cattle transport. * The EU should enforce its animal transport regulations to prevent the transportation of sick animals.