News Livestock transport
Livestock transporters in trouble due to fine system
Transporters of animals from livestock farming are perishing as a result of a bizarre and unjust system of fines. The risk of a (too) strict assessment is particularly high when disposing of older animals. That states Livestock&Logistics Netherlands.
Unlike normal road users, livestock transporters have to deal with stacking and incur fines in the event of detected violations. In addition, detected violations are not equally clear to everyone and therefore much different than, for example, a speeding violation.
Fines are increasing after every violation and at a certain point they can no longer be paid, according to the trade association. "The human dimension has completely disappeared. In our sector, a
an entrepreneur where the same violation is established during his work within a period of five years, an increasingly higher fine is automatically imposed.
Risk of something going wrong
When you, as a transporter, are on the road every day and move tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of animals every year, despite the care for animals, sometimes something goes wrong," according to a cry for help from Vee & Logistiek.
The fines can no longer be paid at a certain point. According to the organization, there are examples where fines have increased from €1.500 to €7.500 in seven years, with a total of €30.000 in fines paid. Then it is not about people who knowingly flout the rules, it is stated.
Livestock life is extra risky
Due to, among other things, the extension of the lifespan in dairy farming, the risk for the livestock transporter is increasing. The vast majority of animals that have to be transported in dairy farming are dairy cows that go to the slaughterhouse at the end of their milking career. These animals show (outward appearance)
characteristics of old age and therefore a greater chance that animals are stiffer or have an old age ailment when the transporter picks them up from the farmer.
Own estimates of carrier and inspector
It is up to the transporter to assess whether the cow can handle the transport and whether the transport will not cause additional suffering. He does this as best he can, but it remains an estimate whether an animal can come along. An NVWA inspector may also judge otherwise. Ultimately, the uncertainty about whether or not to be allowed to transport can mean that animals can no longer be removed. That is also an undesirable situation, says Vee & Logistiek.
Klaas van der Horst
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