This month MEPs voted to strengthen a new Commission proposal designed to improve conditions on lorries and trailers for some of the 14 million farm animals ferried across Europe's roads each year. This follows television reports showing horrendous conditions.
The proposals cover ventilation, lighting and space requirements per animal. A majority of MEPs followed the argument of Heidi Hautala (Fin, Greens) that, as animals face the highest degree of stress during loading and unloading, there was a pressing need to improve arrangements here.
The amended first reading proposal tabled under the co-decision procedure now goes to Council before coming back to Parliament for a second reading.
