International

Parliament this evening lent its support to SP Member Krista van Velzen's motion calling on Agriculture Minister Gerda Verburg to return to the negotiating table in Brussels to reopen discussion of maximum travel times for farm animals.

“It is unacceptable that you are allowed to transport pigs for up to 24 hours at a time, and bovine animals 28 hours, with only an hour's break. The minister and I are agreed on that point, but she is unwilling to call for any change before the scheduled evaluation of the regulation, which is in four years. Parliament is sending the minister directly back to Brussels to demand an immediate and drastic shortening of these travel times, to a maximum of 8 hours.”