UK law for Euro-cases
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Karen Miles • In a move designed to tighten control over British livestock hauliers when abroad, animal welfare authorities are prosecuting offences committed on the Continent in UK courts.
Until now, UK authorities have been powerless to intervene if their foreign counterparts chose not to prosecute British hauliers allegedly breaking European animal welfare laws.
Two cases this week are believed to be the first since the introduction of the Single European Market on 1 January 1993. When border controls were relaxed, county council trading standards staff and animal welfare departments felt they lost some control over British hauliers once abroad.
The cases involve Braintree-based North Essex Transport and Ken Lane Transport from Nottinghamshire.
Both companies were followed on separate occasions by the RSPCA; North Essex's journey was highlighted by a World in Action programme transmitted in February.
Both companies have since been charged in the UK for alleged animal welfare offences committed in France.