Animal welfare during international transport
Many live animals are transported in and out of New Zealand each year, and from our isolated corner of the globe, this can mean a long journey. In this article, Wayne Ricketts of the MAF Compliance and Enforcement Group looks at the rules and regulations that are designed to ensure the welfare of these animals is protected.
The range of animals travelling to and from New Zealand is extensive and includes pets, production animals, racehorses, day-old chickens, laboratory and zoo animals. Production animals and racehorses from New Zealand are highly sought after because of their genetic merit and our freedom from major exotic diseases.
Due to our geographical isolation, animals may have to travel long distances, either by sea or air. Welfare during transport has become a high-profile issue, and a number of international organisations, such as the World Society for the Protection of Animals, Compassion in World Farming and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are now campaigning against long-distance transport of animals. Some airlines refuse to carry certain animals such as birds, and others will not carry specific breeds of dogs.
Ensuring the welfare of animals during transport is paramount, both from the animal's point of view, and for the owners or buyers (including consumers) who want the animal to arrive fit and healthy.
What, then, are the rules and regulations to ensure welfare during transport? As well as each country's domestic standards and legislation (such as New Zealand's Animal Welfare Act 1999 and associated codes of welfare), a number of international organisations have developed standards or guidelines.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) produces the Live Animals Regulations which are updated annually. These regulations support one of the IATA's principal roles, which is to develop standards and procedures to facilitate the safe international transport of animals. Most of the world's airlines are members of IATA, which therefore compels them to comply with the Regulations. The regulations are also adopted by a number of organisations, such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and by a large number of countries. If you want to find out how to safely transport anything from earwigs to elephants, the IATA regulations will tell you.
The Animal Transport Association (AATA) has produced a manual for the transportation of live animals. AATA is committed to the safe and humane transport of animals, whether by sea, air or land. It is a voluntary organisation, and while membership is weighted towards Europe and North America, participants from many countries contribute to annual conferences and the production of the manual. The manual (now in its second edition) is applicable in any country. AATA has strong links with IATA and the OIE.
The OIE is a relatively new player on the international animal transport scene, and has recently produced guidelines for the welfare of animals during land and sea transport. The guidelines are closely aligned with the AATA manual, the Australian Livestock Export Standards, the Australia Maritime Safety Authority Marine Orders and the European Convention for the Protection of Animals During International Transport. Guidelines for air transport are due to be produced and these will be closely associated with the IATA Live Animals Regulations.
New Zealand's Animal Welfare Act 1999 allows for strong measures in regard to animal welfare during international transport. The Act requires that all animals exported from New Zealand, unless specifically exempted, must be issued with an animal welfare export certificate. The Act provides for the imposition (and therefore compliance with) any international standards and domestic requirements during the transport process.
New Zealand participates in all of the above forums. While we are smaller players, our high animal welfare status, both from a legislative and experiential perspective, means that we have much to offer to the setting of worldwide standards.
For more information about animal welfare export certificates:
For more information about the IATA Live Animals Regulations:
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Page last updated: 6 July 2010