Stronger animal transportation requirements = Healthier animals
The amendments to the Transportation of Animals requirements under the Health of Animals Regulations improve the well-being of animals during the entire transportation process, keeping in mind Canada's geographic size and the time required to travel between locations.
- Result of many years of consultation with veterinarians, farmers, transporters, associations, scientists, governments, members of the public and interested stakeholder groups
- Regulations apply to everyone involved in transporting animals in Canada
- Full range of enforcement and compliance
Improvements (Starting in 2020)
- Science-based
- Longer rest periods
- Must arrive at destination safely and be suitably fed, hydrated and rested
- Full transport time (including loading and unloading) from time off feed, water and rest
- Balance of prescriptive and outcome-based requirements
- Outlines training requirements and contingency plans
- Better aligned to international standards
- Shorter hours for many animals
- Addresses compromised animals and unfit animals
- Addresses broiler chickens, spent hens, and rabbits
- Addresses young animals
- Allows for innovation
Specific comparison
| Then (Regulations from 1977) |
Now (Amended regulations 2019) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Transport continuum | Focus mainly on time in confinement | Feed, water and rest (FWR) times start when FW are first removed and include time for loading, transport and unloading, until FW are provided again |
| Type of regulations | Prescriptive based requirements that restrict innovation | More outcome based regulations including: adequate space, enough headroom, weather protection, ventilation, etc. |
| Then (Regulations from 1977) |
Now (Amended regulations 2019) |
|
|---|---|---|
| All livestock, camelids and cervids of 8 days of age or less, and ruminants too young to be fed exclusively hay and grain | Max. 18 h of transport confinement (calves) | Max. 12 h without FWR |
| Compromised animals | Not specified. Covered under general requirements (48 h for ruminants, 36 h for monogastrics). | Max. 12 h without FWR |
| Ruminants | Max. 48 h of transport confinement | Max. 36 h without FWR |
| Animals with a single stomach (monogastrics): horses, pigs, birds, reptiles, pets, etc. | Max. 36 h of transport confinement | Horses and pigs 28 h without FWR Max. 36 h without FWR for all other animals |
| Hatching birds | Max. 72 h of transport after hatching (chicks only) | Max. 72 h from time of hatching for birds |
| Broiler chickens, spent hens and rabbits | Not specified. General requirement for monogastrics (36 h of transport confinement) | Max. 24 h without water Max. 28 h without feed |
| Rest time after max. interval without FWR | 5 h | 8 h |
| Innovation | Not specified | No maximum for specially equipped conveyances/containers that meet numerous specified requirements and provide FWR. Outcome-based requirements for the animals still apply. |
More information on humane transport and animal welfare