The EU Regulation for transporting animals applies from the 5th January 2007 and can be viewed at
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/uksi_20063260_en.pdf 

If you rear and transport gamebirds* in connection with an economic activity (i.e. as part of a business or trade) this will affect you.

There are a number of specific points that anyone transporting gamebirds in connection with an economic activity needs to take account of.  Those transporting gamebirds on journeys up to 65km need to observe the following EU rules’ and general welfare provisions.

• No one shall transport animals, or cause them to be transported, in a way likely to cause them injury or undue suffering.
• Journey times are kept to a minimum.
• The animals must be fit to travel.

Guidance is available at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/transport/documents/fitness2a.pdf

• Those handling animals have been trained and are competent.

Guidance is available at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/transport/euguidance/training.htm

• The vehicle and its loading and unloading facilities are designed, constructed and maintained to avoid injury and suffering and to ensure the safety of the animals.
• Water, feed and opportunity to rest are made available to the animals as appropriate and sufficient floor space and height is available in the transport.
• Documentation is provided which shows the following: origin and ownership of animals; place of departure and destination; date and time of departure and expected duration of journey (usually referred to as an Animal Transport Certificate).

Guidance on A.T.C is available at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/transport/euguidance/documentation.htm#3

• The EU rules refer to poultry.  In this instance Defra considers poultry to include: domestic fowl, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea, fowl, quails, pheasants and partridges.

Short Journeys** (over 65km and up to eight hours)

If you transport gamebirds on ‘short’ journeys over 65km (approximately 40 miles) and up to eight hours, you must:

• Hold a Type 1 Transporter Authorisation. Anyone transporting any live vertebrate animals inside the European Union on journeys of over 65 kilometres (approximately 40 miles) as part of an economic activity must hold a valid Authorisation to do so.

Guidance on Type 1 T.A available at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/docs/forms/awelf/wit1.htm

Application forms for Type 1 T.A available at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/docs/forms/awelf/wit1_rev0508.pdf

• Demonstrate that you have appropriate staff and equipment to transport animals in a proper way, and to have no record of conviction for serious infringements of animal welfare legislation or Home Office Simple Cautions in the preceding three years.

Certificate of Competence

Ensure that drivers and attendants are in possession of a Certificate of Competence (from 5 January 2008) ***. By 5 January 2008, those transporting cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and poultry by road on journeys over 65km in connection with an economic activity must be independently assessed in their competence.  Those assessed as competent will receive a certificate of competence.  The certificate will be specific to the role the transporter or attendant is charged with, the length of journeys to be undertaken and the species to be transported. The Certificate of Competence is valid for 5 years and is not apply to those catching and putting birds into crates.

A list of the assessment centre’s offering the certificate of competence can be viewed using the following link. http://www.nptc.org.uk/latest-news/detail.asp?dsid=497

A basic over view of the Certificate of Competence for short and long journeys can be viewed via the following links:

Transport of Animals by Road (Short Journeys) Information

  Long Distance Transport of Animals by Road Information Sheet

The assessment schedules are detailed in the following link; this is every thing you will have to know in order to gain your Certificate of Competence.
http://www.nptc.org.uk/assessment-schedules/

** Journey Time does not include time spent loading and unloading birds
*** For domestic journeys, this is not now required until the end of April 2008.

Long journeys** (over eight hours)

There are a number of other additional requirements for those transporting gamebirds on ‘long’ journeys of over eight hours, you must:

• Hold a Type 2 transporter authorisation.

Guidance notes
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/transport/documents/authguidance230508.pdf

Application form
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/docs/forms/awelf/wit2_rev0508.pdf

• Have contingency plans in place in case of emergencies.

For more information

BASC Gamekeeping and Game Shooting Team - 01244 573019

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/index.htm
Animal Health’s Welfare in Transport Helpline on: 0845 603 8395 or email.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/transport/documents/transport_poultry.pdf