Stricter regulations for the transport of live animals through and within Austria have been announced by the Health Ministry.

“Animals are not goods. They are sentient beings. We are now introducing even stricter standards for the welfare of animals,” said Health Minister Johannes Rauch. “The new regulation is a big step in preventing unbearable animal suffering during transport, as animal welfare organisations have repeatedly documented.”

The new rules apply to all livestock transport, including cattle, calves, pigs, sheep and goats. In future, regular feeding and constant access to water must be ensured, and transports will only be permitted between 5 and 30 degrees Celsius if the lorry is not air-conditioned. Compliance will require documentation through photos and videos.

Stricter inspections for sea transport will also be introduced. The regulations came into effect on Friday, with a transition period until July 2025 for certain watering requirements due to necessary modifications.

Around 12,500 animal transports are processed annually in Austria, with approximately 100,000 cattle and calves loaded onto transporters each year. Their journeys to other EU countries or non-EU states can last for days, during which many animals suffer from thirst, heat, or cold, often leading to dehydration or heat exhaustion.

The organisation Four Paws welcomed the new rules, noting improvements but calling for more: “Although the regulation contains important steps in the right direction, we continue to call for a complete ban on the transport of unweaned young animals and a general ban on long-distance animal transport to non-EU countries,” said campaign leader Veronika Weissenböck.