N.Ireland
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has announced changes to policy when transporting animals to a show.
Agri-Business
Teagasc is currently seeking submissions from potential suppliers for an in-lorry system to feed calves in-transit.
Agri Politics
MEP Barry Cowen has tabled amendments to EU animal transport rules, with a focus on sea journeys and proposed journey time limits
There have been further calls from MEPs to ensure that new animal transport rules prioritise Ireland's access to the Single Market.
An Irish MEP has called for livestock exporters to be guaranteed that they will continue to be able to access the EU Single Market.
Beef
Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Cowen has called for a balanced and practical approach to proposed EU regulations on live animal transport.
Irish MEPS, Barry Cowen and Ciaran Mullooly, plan to "put forward amendments" to proposed EU legislation on the transport of animals.
The next animal welfare commissioner has said that advancing new legislation on the welfare of animals in transport is one of his priorities.
The DAFM is "trying to deal with the pressures emerging" regarding Irish live exports "as best it can", the secretary general said.
The Department of Agriculture (DAFM) said negotiations on draft EU Commission animal transport proposals are "likely to be a slow process".
EFI has formally submitted a complaint to the EU on how DAFM has infringed EU law regarding the transport of unweaned calves.
Approximately 70% of all calves transported from Ireland to neighbouring EU member states are less than five weeks of age, the DAFM said.
The EU's animal transport proposals will pose "significant challenges" for Ireland's dairy and beef sectors, Minister McConalogue said.
The European Council of Young Farmers, CEJA, has said that animal welfare requires a "collective effort" along the entire value chain.
Rural Life
Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has said that he will seek changes to the European Commission's new proposals around the animal transport.
Dairy
An MEP has said the new requirements contained in the European Commission’s proposal on animal transport will be "problematic and costly".
An MEP has written to an EU commissioner saying new rules on animal transport could "end Ireland's unfettered access" to the single market.
The new European Commission work programme for 2024 has been met with concern from an animal welfare group.
An Armagh company has been convicted in court in Northern Ireland of transporting an animal that was not fit for the journey.
The House of Representatives of the Netherlands has passed a motion calling on the Dutch government to end the import of calves.
Requirements have changed for farmers and the transport of animals directly from farms or marts in Ireland, according to DAFM.
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has called for an EU-level IT system to track all live animal journeys to improve monitoring.
Minister McConalogue has called on the commission to provide a "comprehensive impact assessment" of proposed live animal transport rules.
