THE REGULATION OF ANIMAL WELFARE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TRANSPORT

Abstract

This paper deals with the regulation of animal welfare with special reference to transport.
The first part of the paper is focused on animal rights as the current problem of the world
today. Animals unjustly endure suffering and torture by humans on a daily basis. Although
technology has flourished, we still continue to carry out most of our research and testing
on animals, and torture and kill them unnecessarily. The European Union has recognised
animals as living beings and a series of regulations, directives and other regulations seeks
to protect their rights and to encourage Member States to do the same by virtue of their
respective national legislations. Of course, it is also important to mention activism which is,
we dare say, becoming more widespread.
The second part of the paper mentions the most important international and national acts
regulating the protection of animals during transport. Indeed, emphasis is placed on legal
regulations of the Republic of Croatia that follow EU regulations, but we have also witnessed
some opposite cases in practice.
In the third part of the paper, we will analyse the four modes of transport (i.e. road, rail,
air and maritime), how animals are transported in each of them and what conditions need
to be met to allow the transport of animals in each mode. In addition, we will outline the
applicable regulations in the Republic of Croatia regulating the terms and conditions as well
as modes of transport for each mode.