The Dutch parliament has heard that “the import of calves from Ireland is increasing every year”.
The Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Piet Adema, confirmed that calf trade from Ireland to the Netherlands is continuing to grow.
He faced a number of questions recently on the issue from the leader of the Party for the Animals and its parliamentary group in the House of Representatives, Esther Ouwehand, on the import of Irish calves.
Ouwehand tabled these questions under the heading of: ‘Questions…about the terrible import of calves from Ireland’.
She asked the minister for his thoughts about the “record number” of 106,000 calves brought to the Netherlands from Ireland.
Minister Adema said: “The increase in the transport of unweaned calves from Ireland to the Netherlands in 2023 does not fit with my commitment to action in the EU context, including the revision of European Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 (the transport regulation) to a ban on long-distance transport (8 hours) for young unweaned animals.
“However, I cannot prohibit these transports due to the rules regarding the free movement of goods and the transport regulation that permits long-distance transports of unweaned calves under certain conditions. This must be addressed EU-wide.
“I am indeed a strong supporter of a ban on long-distance transport (8 hours) for young unweaned animals and I am committed to this at European level” he added.
Ouwehand asked Minister Adema what he would do if “the Irish authorities continue to ignore the rules to combat this animal suffering”.
The minister said he thinks “it is important that animals are treated in an animal-worthy manner at all times, especially vulnerable animals such as unweaned calves”.
Transport of calves
Minister Adema stated that it is “important” that “there are clear rules for watering and feeding animals during transport”.
But he also outlined that it is member states that monitor compliance with the (current) transport regulation and that it is the competent authority of Ireland which checks, among other things, the planning of these transports prior to transport.
If this is not in order, he said, the transport may not be carried out.
“My department is in contact with Irish colleagues about this, who indicate that these transports are carried out in accordance with the rules in the transport regulation,” he added.
The minister said “the Irish authorities are aware” that he is “not in favour of these shipments.
“For example, in October 2023 I emphasized to my Irish colleague that these transports from Ireland to the Netherlands are finite and that Ireland itself must provide for these calves in the future.”
Minister Adema explained: “The Netherlands trusts that the European Commission will speak to a member state if that member state does not comply or does not comply sufficiently with the transport regulation and will consider whether an infringement procedure is appropriate.
“I will therefore not ask the European Commission to initiate infringement proceedings against Ireland,” he confirmed.
Feeding of calves
However Ouwehand also questioned the minister on whether cattle trucks transporting young calves from Ireland do not have systems on board from which these calves can drink milk.
The minister replied that livestock trucks used to transport young unweaned calves “usually do not have drinking systems on board from which the calves can drink milk”.
Minister Adema said his department is maintaining “close contact with Irish colleagues” to monitor developments in research on such systems.
He added these systems were tested on “Ireland’s roll-on-roll-off boat (where the livestock truck containing the animals is loaded onto the boat) at the end of October 2023 to mainland Europe”.
He confirmed the results of that test are currently being analysed by Teagasc.
Minister Adema also explained that metal bite nipples, which most livestock trucks are equipped with, “are unsuitable for unweaned calves” and that they “cannot drink well from it”.
He confirmed that the Netherlands has “repeatedly reminded other EU member states of the need for these flexible teats on livestock trucks”.
“I will work to ensure that an obligation for suitable drinking systems for unweaned calves is clearly included in the revision of the transport regulation,” Minister Adema added.
Flying calves to Europe
On the subject of calf exporters considering the feasibility of flying calves to market destinations in mainland Europe, Minister Adema offered a comment on the matter.
He said: “I am of the opinion that transport of unweaned calves by air also has animal welfare
risks, such as additional stress factors (loading and unloading moments and unfamiliar sounds, smells and movements associated with air traffic).
“The Irish authorities are aware of my position on this,” he added.
Veal sector
Minister Adema said the veal sector is “taking steps in the right direction”.
For example, the minister said from 2026, the sector intends to feed calves with milk at least twice a day with a maximum time interval of 14 hours, including during transport from dairy farmer to veal farmer.
The minister added: “The sector also indicates that it will stop the import of calves from eastern Europe.
“Because I do not think these steps are ambitious enough, I am at the same time committed to stricter rules in Europe regarding the transport of young unweaned calves to stimulate further progress.
Minister Adema confirmed he is “working on a control plan for the animal diseases BVD (bovine viral diarrhoea) and IBR (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis), which also affects the calf sector and limits the transport of calves from other member states to the Netherlands”.
Ouwehand asked the minister if he acknowleged that the House of Representatives “has repeatedly made it very clear that these terrible transports of calves must come to an end”.
Minister Adema replied: “Yes, I acknowledge that.”