A new report has concluded that European proposals on animal transport would leave farmers in the Highlands and Islands region with an annual bill of £1.65 million.

The report, compiled by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), was commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and a coalition of organisations, including NFU Scotland. The report has been produced to evaluate the impact on the Highlands and Islands region of a new EU animal transport regulation. It proposes reducing the stocking densities on vehicles and requiring them to rest for periods of 12 hours after every nine hours travel.

The report concludes that, if the proposals are implemented in their current form, the outlook for the livestock sector in the Highlands and Islands is bleak. The cost of compliance will rest largely with producers in the area, but there will also be sizeable impacts on livestock hauliers, ferry companies and markets which may lead to the closure of businesses.

NFUS has already raised this issue with the Scottish Executive and in Brussels and continues to argue for a sensible derogation to allow the viable movement of animals from Scotland’s remote areas to their traditional destinations, many of which are south of the border.

NFUS Vice President David Mitchell said:

"As well as there being few welfare benefits of having animals resting in vehicles for twelve hours, the cost on our industry of these proposals makes them unworkable. The economics of hill farming are already extremely difficult, and forcing further cost onto the industry with little justification is unacceptable. The report highlights that the sheep industry will be hit hardest, with lamb prices expected to fall by 4-8 per cent, putting further pressure on profit margins and accelerating the decline in the production base.

"NFUS has been to Brussels recently to highlight the industry’s concerns and reiterate our commitment to sensible animal welfare regulations. This reports makes the case for amendments to the proposals which will ensure the high standards of animal welfare are maintained, whilst still allowing businesses to operate. NFUS will be pressing the case for suitable amendments in Brussels, which meet the needs of the Scottish industry."

Tony Jarvis, HIE Transport Policy Officer, added:

"The aim of the regulation is to improve animal welfare, but the research cast doubts on whether this will actually be achieved. The regulation would, in fact, place further financial pressure on livestock producers and associated industries which are significant economic contributors in some of our most fragile communities. We also support the report's recommendations for significant amendments to the regulation."

Chairman of Highland Council's Land and Environment Select Committee, Councillor Richard Durham said:

"The Highlands and Islands have long been renowned for the production of high quality store livestock, which historically have been finished in the rest of Scotland and also further afield in England and Wales. Whilst I fully support the role that Highland Council plays in promoting and enforcing appropriate animal welfare, these regulations if implemented in their current form will sound a death knell to this historical movement of livestock.

"It is very debatable to what extent the new regulations are genuinely based on scientific or animal welfare grounds. Whilst it may be more sensible on straight motorways to have stocking densities which allow animals to lie down; on twisty undulating highland roads it may often be preferable to have the animals more tightly packed so that they are adequately supported against the motion of the vehicle. If the current journey times are reduced from 14 to 9 hours, this reduction, when added to the proposed increase in the rest period from 1 to 12

hours, unnecessarily prolongs journeys which could be completed in 14 hours. Surely a 14-hour journey time is more acceptable than the animals spending 26 hours on a vehicle?"

Councillor Ian Gillies, Chair of the Scottish Islands Network and Spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said:

"I feel that the report is technically excellent and provides solid evidence and argument in defence of our livestock industry. I am hopeful that evidence of existing good practice will assist us in overcoming at least some of the proposals that are currently being considered by the EU. I fear the most horrendous repercussions for our Scottish and Scottish Islands livestock industry if the need for amendments is not recognised."

The report conservatively estimates that livestock markets in the region would have to spend between £100,000 to £150,000 up front to meet the new regulations, with ferry operators expecting a bill of £95,000 to ensure vessels are compliant. Along with the doubt over the ability of farm businesses to absorb the costs, the report concludes that there is uncertainty over the ability of markets and hauliers to make the necessary investments.

The full report in pdf format is available here