Italy to face legal action for cruelty against animals?

The European Commission published a damning report of a mission carried out in Italy from 6 to 10 November 2000 concerning animal welfare during transportation through Italy.
The Comission report recommends that infringement proceedings be taken against the Italian Government for failing to enforce EU legislation. A high mortality rate and animals subjected to lengthy journeys while unfit to travel were discovered.

Here below are the recommendations as written in document DG(SANCO)/1105/2000 - MR final.

To the Commission Services
Subject to final legal assessment, the commission services should consider:
Opening infringement proceedings against Italy in respect of the findings of this report, in particular:

• Failure to adequately pursue transporters found to be in breach of EC legislation and failure to enforce payment of penalties imposed in cases subject to legal and administrative actions. This is in contravention of Article 18 of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (as amended by 95/29/EC).
  
  
• Failure to enforce the requirement for transporters, in particular those from third countries, to be authorised (article 5A paragraph 1(a) (ii) of Council Directive 91/628/EEC - as amended by 95/29/EC).
  
  
• Failure to prevent the transport of animals in a way which is likely to produce suffering and failing to take account of the need to enforce Article 5A 1(b) of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (as amended by 95/29/EC).
  
  
• Failure to prevent the transport of unfit animals as required by Article 31(b) of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (as amended by 95/29/EC).
  
  
• Failure to ensure the provision of water for animals during journeys of more than eight hours as required by points 4 and 6 of the Annex of Council Regulation No. 411/98 and point 4(c) of Chapter VII of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (as amended by 95/29/EC).
  
  
• Failure to ensure that horses were adequately watered in the lairages of slaughterhouses (point 9 of chapter II of Annex A of Council Directive 93/119/EEC).
  
  
• Failure of certain inspections to include adequate checks of the provisions of the Directive (Article 8 of Council Directive 91/628/EEC - as amended by 95/29/EC).
  
  
• Failure to ensure that journey times were respected, in particular where the animals were allowed to embark on a sea journey after having already undertaken long distance travel (Chapter VII of the Annex of Council Directive 91/628/EEC).
  
  
• Failure to ensure that a back-up gun was kept at the place of slaughter (Article 6 of Council Directive 93/119/EEC)