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Welfare during transport

The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (WATO) (England) Order 2006 (PDF 74KB) (and similar legislation in Scotland and Wales) requires that:

  • Livestock are not caused injury or unnecessary suffering
  • They are fit to travel
  • Those transporting and handling cattle are trained and competent
  • Rules on journey times, resting, watering and feeding are observed.

Those transporting livestock as part of a business or trade need the following:

  • a transporter authorisation
  • a certificate of competence
  • vehicles to be approved (if undertaking journeys of over eight hours)
  • journeys to be logged

Exemptions to WATO

WATO rules do not apply to the transport of animals:

  • When not in connection with an economic activity
  • Transport to or from veterinary practice or clinics under veterinary advice
  • Where the animals are pets accompanied by their owners on a journey.

Animals that cannot be transported (except under veterinary advice)

  • Unfit animals
  • Very young animals
  • Calves of less than 14 days of age
  • Heavily pregnant animals and pregnant animals in the last 10% of their gestation period
  • Cats and dogs under 8 weeks of age.

Training and Competence Certification

Transporters and attendants using road vehicles for transporting farm animals, poultry or horses over 65 km in connection with an economic activity must receive training and hold a certificate of competence. Contact your local college or training provider for further information or National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC), part of the City and Guilds Group, has been designated to provide training and issue certificates of competence. For further information: www.nptc.org.uk (external link) .

Guidance on the Welfare of Animals in Transport Orders
Defra have produced a series of information leaflets which provide in depth advice and guidance on complying with the requirements of WATO:

Deer
You cannot transport deer that are in velvet on journeys longer than 50km and must take special precautions for journeys of less than 50km.

Rabbits
You must provide food and water for rabbits transported for more than 12 hours and segregate them from other species. See Schedule three of WATO 1997.

Further information
Defra have produced detailed guidance on the European Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations which underpins the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 and parallel national legislation in Scotland and Wales.

Annexes to this guidance provide detailed advice on:

Vehicle specifications

Transporting animals by air or sea

Other annexes

Enforcement of WATO rules
Animal Health will take regulatory action against those believed to be committing serious or repeat infringements of WATO rules.

Animal Health’s policy sets out the principles under which regulatory action may be taken and the penalties which may be imposed. It also sets out the systems that will be used to monitor repeat and serious infringements and for dealing with infringements by transporters from other EU Member States or third countries.

The policy can be found at:

Further advice can be sought from Animal Health Welfare in Transport Team:

Welfare in Transport Team
Email: WIT@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0845 603 8395 or 01228 403600 (Option 8)

Page last modified: 9 January, 2012