Dafydd Jarrett writes...
The first point to make is the need for both a Transporter Authorisation and the certificate in the Welfare of Animals during transport (WATO). The WATO certificate is a lifetime qualification with certificates issued following a successful completion of a training course through NPTC or Lantra. As a member benefit, NFU Cymru runs courses when there is demand, to enable new farmers to get this certificate.
The Transporter Authorisation, however, needs to be renewed every five years. For many, 2022 is a renewal year and for those that have not already done so, the renewal pack can be obtained from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) by emailing [email protected]. When submitting the application, you will need to include (in what is known as a block format) a copy of your certificate in the Welfare of Animals in Transport.
Access our WATO discount and more information on the transporter authorisation.
Different types of transporter authorisations
There are two types of transporter authorisations:
- A short journey authorisation (type 1) for journeys over 65km (40 miles) and up to and including eight hours duration.
- A long journey authorisation (type 2) for journeys over 65km and which exceed over eight hours.
There are additional conditions for type 2 authorisations, including vehicle approval, contingency plans should unforeseeable circumstances occur during the journey and the need for a tracking system to be in place, which as a minimum requires the driver to be contactable on a mobile phone. Where transport regulations require it there must also be a functioning vehicle tachograph.
The journey
A journey is defined as the time from when the first animal is loaded onto the transport box at the premises of departure until the last animal is unloaded at the final destination (except for poultry for which journey times disregard loading and unloading).
Most people would want the type 1 short journey - authorising journeys up to eight hours.
There is, however, an exemption. For journeys of less than 65km or 40 miles, you do not have to have a transporter authorisation. However, remember the 40 miles refers to the actual miles of a journey, not ‘as the crow flies’ distance.
Occasional journeys further afield
Also, for farms whose normal market or abattoir or land are within 40 miles of the holding, it is easy to forget that the exemption will not apply to those occasional journeys further afield to a ram or bull sale, for example. If distance exceeds 40 miles, then a transporter authorisation will be required even if it is only once a year, unless of course you intend using someone with the necessary certification to do the transporting for you.
Please also remember the need for an animal transport document when transporting a batch of animals. As a minimum this will need the full name and address of the transporter, full name and address of the owner of the animals, address of where animals are loaded and final destination date and time of departure and estimated journey duration. There are proformas available. If completing an Animal Movement Licence (AML) for sheep, all the required information will be on this.
There is an exemption from the need to carry an animal transport certificate when farmers are transporting their own animals in their own means of transport for journeys of up to 50km (31.25 miles) from their holding.
Compliance
No one is fond of regulation, but with the eyes of government and the public now firmly on animal transport, compliance gives assurance that animal welfare is not compromised in any way and shows that Welsh livestock are not only produced to the highest standards, but their care during transportation is top notch as well.
This gives us confidence in telling government that no changes to the current legislation are required and gives assurance to meat consumers of best possible treatment of our farm animals from farm to market to abattoir by competent persons. They are among the most stringent regulations and farm animal transport anywhere in the world, something to be immensely proud of.
