RSPCA Australia

Animals selected for transport must be in good health and fit for the intended journey. The only exception to this requirement is when the transport is for emergency purposes to seek veterinary treatment.

1.3

Animals must be separated into appropriate compatible groups prior to loading.

1.4

Vehicles and containers must be designed, constructed and maintained as appropriate to the biological needs of the species to be transported.

1.5

All animal transport journeys must be as short as possible in terms of the time and distance travelled.

1.6

Animals must be provided with sufficient food, water and rest before, during and after the journey, according to their biological needs.

1.7

The transport of unaccompanied animals should be avoided wherever possible.

1.8

Where applicable, all transport of animals must be carried out, at the very minimum, in accordance with the relevant Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals or the equivalent state or territory code. Where no relevant code exists, all transport must be carried out, at the very minimum, in accordance with OIE transport guidelines.

See also: H2 Standards, codes of practice and guidelines

Transportation of livestock for slaughter (reviewed 09/10/07)

Because of the inevitable suffering associated with the transport of animals, RSPCA Australia supports the humane slaughter of livestock as near as possible to the point of production.

See also:	Position paper F2.1 Transportation of livestock
	Position paper F3.2 Transportation of drought-affected livestock
	Position paper F3.3 Road transport of livestock

Export of live food animals (reviewed 09/10/07)

RSPCA Australia is opposed to the export of live food animals for immediate slaughter or further fattening and advocates the adoption of a chilled and frozen meat-only trade. RSPCA Australia will work to pressure government to achieve the conversion of the live export trade to a chilled and frozen meat-only trade.

See also: Position paper F2.2 Export of live food animals

Transportation of bobby calves (adopted 09/10/07)

4.1

RSPCA Australia is opposed to the transportation of bobby calves where it causes injury, suffering or distress.

4.2

RSPCA believes that bobby calves must not be transported until they are of an age that enables them to withstand inevitable stress and rigours associated with transportation.

4.3

Bobby calves are often transported in substandard vehicles which have serious adverse impacts on their welfare. RSPCA Australia considers that bobby calves must at all times be transported in vehicles that ensure a sheltered dry environment.

See also:	Position paper F3.1 Transportation of bobby calves
	Position paper B3.1 Welfare of bobby calves at pick-up points and sales
	Position paper B3.5 Welfare of bobby calves on farm
	Position paper G3.3 Welfare of bobby calves at abattoirs

Transportation of horses (reviewed 09/10/07)

5.1

RSPCA Australia is opposed to any methods of transportation for horses which cause injury, suffering or distress.

5.2

RSPCA Australia only accepts the transport of horses in single deck vehicles specifically designed for the needs of horses. The RSPCA opposes the use of double-decker vehicles for horse transport as it is not possible to provide sufficient height on both decks due to vehicle safety restrictions.

5.3

All horses must be transported, at the very minimum, in accordance with the Australian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Land Transport of Horses or the equivalent state or territory code.

5.4

Feral horses

5.4.1

Feral horses should only be transported for the purposes of relocation or rehoming and as part of a government supervised management program.

5.4.2

Special consideration needs to be given to welfare of feral horses during muster, assembly, loading and transport as these are wild animals unused to human contact or confinement.

5.4.3

Mustering or trapping of feral horses for transport should be carried out in accordance with current best practice.

See also:	E3 Control and commercial use of introduced animals
	H2 Standards, codes of practice and guidelines

Transportation of wild animals for slaughter (adopted 09/10/07)

6.1

RSPCA Australia is opposed to the transport of native or introduced wild animals for slaughter because of the inevitable suffering involved.

6.2

Where wild animals are selected for culling under a government supervised management program, they should be humanely killed in situ to avoid unnecessary transport.

See also:	E2 Control and commercial use of native animals
	E3 Control and commercial use of introduced animals

Transportation of animals by air (adopted 09/10/07)

The transport of animals by air within Australia and internationally to and from Australia must be carried out, at the very minimum, in accordance with the International Air Transport Association’s Live Animal Regulations

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