Protection of Animals during Transport: Analysis of the Infringements Reported from 2009 to 2013 during On-Road Inspections in Italy

SIMPLE SUMMARY: On-road inspections of vehicles that transport animals are mandatory in Europe. Infringements of the Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 that were ascertained by competent authorities during on-road inspections published by the Italian Health Ministry from 2009 to 2013 were analyzed. The aims were both to identify possible routes or species that are more likely to be at risk of poor welfare conditions and to suggest recommendations. A total of 985 infringements were reported. For analysis, they were split into three main categories that were related to animal welfare (AW), vehicle (V), and accompanying documents (D). Each category was further classified under different subcategories (e.g., overcrowding for AW, lack of drinking system for V, and lack of health certificate for D). The most frequent infringements were related to D (34.4%), but more than one infringement was often found during an inspection (mean: 1.58; max: 9). A score (from 1 to 3) that was related to the severity of the animal-welfare issues was created which was found to be associated with year, species, authority, and country of dispatch (p < 0.001). Over the years, the only improvement was in the accompanying documentation. Vehicles that were transporting pigs, sheep, or goats were more likely to have the poorest welfare conditions, whilst vehicles that were transporting horses or other species, including dogs, were often found with irregular documentation. AW infringements were more likely to be uncovered during road inspections where traffic police and veterinarians worked together. This type of road inspection should be intensified so as to enhance animal welfare during transportation. ABSTRACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 requires that vehicles that are transporting animals be subjected to checks conducted by competent authorities. Yearly, each member state sends a report to the European government on the infringements that have been discovered during on-road inspections. The reports that were published by the Italian Ministry of Public Health from 2009 to 2013 were analyzed. Possible associations between the type of infringement (related to animal welfare (AW), vehicle (V) and accompanying documents (D)), year, season, transported species, place of inspection, and competent authorities were identified. A total of 985 infringements were analyzed, with some vehicles receiving more than one (mean: 1.58; max: 9). A score (from 1 to 3) that was related to the severity of the infringements was created. In 2009 and 2010, there was a 50% higher probability of encountering penalties of a lower severity (D or V) than in 2011 (p < 0.0001). Vehicles that were transporting pigs showed the highest probability of committing animal welfare-related infringements (odds ratio (OR) = 3.85, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.82–8.76, p < 0.0001). Vehicles were four times more likely to suffer animal welfare-related penalties when traffic police worked in synergy with veterinary services (OR = 4.12, 95%CI = 1.70–11.13, p = 0.0005). Vehicles that were transporting Equidae and “other species,” including pets, for commercial purposes were more likely to be fined for a lack or incompleteness of the veterinary documents than those transporting cattle (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively). This study gives statistical evidence of the implementation of EC 1/2005. The training of transporters and drivers on how to manage transport in an animal welfare-friendly manner and a standardized method on how to conduct road inspections among competent authorities are recommended.