EU livestock transport regulations set journey time limits and welfare standards, but enforcement gaps, long-distance trade, and live export to non-EU countries leave significant welfare deficits.
EU livestock transport represents one of the most politically contested animal welfare issues in European policy. The regulatory framework is more protective than most global standards, but its enforcement is patchy and its coverage ends at the EU border — animals exported live to non-EU countries face conditions far below what EU law requires for internal transport. The welfare case for replacing long-distance live animal transport with carcase and genetic material trade is scientifically strong, economically debated, and politically fraught. Reform progress has been slow despite scientific consensus on the welfare benefits of shorter journeys. Consumer advocacy, NGO enforcement monitoring, and political engagement with the European Parliament are the primary levers available for welfare improvement in this sector.