The European Commission has published the report Animal Welfare Transport about the export by sea of live animals from the port of Midia in Romania.
Romania has broken EU laws by approving transports that are not safe for animals. In November, a ship capsized in the port; almost 15000 sheep drowned. Last summer, Romania approved a horror shipment of 70.000 sheep to the Persian Gulf. It was so hot, sheep boiled to death on the ship.
Animal rights advocates have pointed out the unnecessary suffering of animals, but still, live transports are being approved in the country. Sometimes the animals are stuck on broken ships for more than three weeks.
In the EU, there are rules to be followed for the live transport of animals. The report conducted by the European Commission shows that Romania is not keeping track of the correct information to control and ensure the well-being of animals.
Information on technical problems in ships to ventilation or water-providing equipment or whether animals are fit to travel is not given by the ANSVA, the Romanian Veterinary and Food Safety Authority.
“If they did not die in trucks on the way to the port, then the animals are beaten and forced to board ships even if they are not fit to continue transport. I have seen this many times in the port, and regarding the dead animals on board the ships, you can never find out the truth with the current monitoring system,” said Gabriel Paun, EU Director of Animals International.
Romania has approved more than 50% of livestock vessels operating in the EU. They’ve approved sheep and other animals to be transported on the ship Al Suwaikh. “It is a huge ship, like a titanic for animals and which had been banned in Australia, but which ANSVSA authorized without blinking,” Paun added.
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