EU livestock transport row worsens

DISAGREEMENTS over livestock transport worsened this week, with Agriculture Ministers of the EU 15 split down the middle.

Representing Ireland in its role as the current EU president, Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh said extreme positions maintained by delegations made it impossible to reach a balanced agreement which would continue the legitimate trade for live animal, whilst leading to an improvement in animal welfare standards.

"At the end of the day it wasn't possible to find common ground, mainly on the issues of transport journey and rest periods.