Dossier

Fitness for transport

Across the different pig categories, transport is a multifactorial stressor. For some pigs with certain pre-transport characteristics (of which some, but not all, are related to animal health), the challenges of transport are larger than average, possibly leading to serious welfare concerns or even death. Such pigs are unfit for transport.

Source photo: © FLI

This dossier aims to help Competent Authorities and other stakeholders with issues related to assessment of fitness for transport and criteria and circumstances leading to a decision of ‘unfit for transport’. The dossier is updated periodically by the EURCAW-Pigs team. The text is meant to support Competent Authorities, and is not legally binding.

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The legal requirements regarding fitness for transport are stated in the Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 and additional text can be found in Council regulation 1255/97 and in Regulation 853/2004. Fitness for transport is a central concept in the Council Regulation (EC 1/2005). However, the regulation does not define the term, but describes a condition that should not happen.

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The high number and relatively long duration of journeys amplify the importance of the pre-transport fitness of pigs. The diversity of pig categories makes the assessment of fitness for transport extra complex: pigs may be transported as weaners to a finishing farm, at slaughter weight to a slaughterhouse, as breeding animals to a multiplier farm, and/or as cull sows and boars to a slaughterhouse after finishing their productive life.

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Recently, EFSA (2022) concluded that questions about fitness for transport are among the major concerns for sow welfare during transport. Due to the general health impairment of a large proportion of cull sows, compared to average finishers, sows may experience a higher risk of worsening of pre-existing health conditions, as well as a higher risk of new health conditions occurring during transport. The specific welfare risks of transporting cull sows to the abattoir – including fitness for transport - are addressed in a EURCAW-Pigs review (see ‘Show more’).

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Inspection of the pre-transport condition of individual animals is needed for the assessment of fitness for transport. Under practical conditions, the clinical examination of each individual animal needs to be relatively fast as most journeys involve many animals. Two key areas to focus on during inspections on fitness for transport can be distinguished. For these key areas, indicators relevant for the different pig categories are suggested. Each indicator is described in an indicator factsheet, by suggesting an inspection and scoring method, and summarizing the underlying welfare concern and legal requirements.

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In collaboration with national training bodies and national reference centers on animal welfare, EURCAW-Pigs develops training guides for the different welfare topics as standards for national training in EU Member States.

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