It was only with reluctance that the Miesbach official veterinarian granted permission to transport 31 pregnant calves to Kazakhstan.
The reason: a court order.
Although he had animal welfare concerns, the Miesbach official veterinarian had to allow 31 pregnant calves to be transported to Kazakhstan.
The Bavarian Administrative Court had found the carrier's action right.
The environment minister cannot understand this - the breeding association can.
Miesbach
- The pen must have felt as heavy as lead for the official veterinarian at the Miesbach district office on Thursday morning.
He was reluctant to sign the papers to authorize the export of 31 pregnant calves from the Miesbach district to Hungary and on to Kazakhstan.
Ultimately, however, the veterinarian had no choice.
The Bavarian Administrative Court (VGH) had rejected a complaint from the Ministry of the Environment - and thus upheld the transporter's claim for the export permit.
Kazakhstan is on a list of 18 third countries for which the ministry has serious doubts that animal welfare requirements will be complied with when exporting there.
In the opinion of the VGH, the planned 30-day quarantine of the transport in Hungary means that the actual delivery involves two separate processes.
Accordingly, according to the current legal situation, it is up to the authorities in Hungary to decide on further processing.
Discussion in the Miesbach district is not an isolated case
As the press spokeswoman for the district office, Sophie Stadler, informed our newspaper when asked, the discussion in the Miesbach district is not an isolated incident.
Other Bavarian veterinary offices have already refused to clear the cattle if they have concerns about animal welfare.
In the present case, the applicant did not dispel the doubts “whether the animals would have to suffer from conditions that were not in keeping with animal welfare when they were transported to Kazakhstan,” explains Stadler.
However, because the court was of the opinion that the second part of the journey was beyond the inspection by the veterinary office, the papers had to be issued contrary to the opinion of the veterinarian.
"A really stressful dilemma," said Stadler.
Also read: Zuchtverband Miesbach defends animal transports to third countries
Environment minister calls for regulation at federal and EU level
“The legal situation is unsatisfactory”, commented Environment Minister Thorsten Glauber (Free Voters) on the decision of the VGH.
Now the legislature in Brussels and Berlin is required.
Glauber emphasizes that he will work at the federal level to close loopholes for animal transports to certain third countries.
"We need an EU-wide regulation in order to enforce legitimate animal welfare interests."
Breeding association cannot see any loophole
The Miesbacher Zuchtverband assesses the verdict quite differently.
This shows that there is no loophole.
"It is a legal transport among EU countries and without detours, during which the quarantine takes place in Hungary", emphasizes managing director Christian Presslaber.
Anyone who wants to buy Simmental cattle to set up breeding herds in large quantities can only do so in Bavaria and Austria worldwide.
Breeding for vitality and motivation makes the animals very popular, as is the case with the said customer from Kazakhstan.
In the past, he had already moved into a number of animals.
Also interesting: Export ban for cattle: This is how the breeders in the Miesbach district react
“We are convinced that our breeding animals will be handled carefully and have decided on a legal solution to enable countries with food shortages and unemployment to develop their agriculture,” explains Presslaber.
Fleckvieh breeding cattle have a "very high price level".
It is therefore in the interest of everyone involved that the animals arrive safely in the destination country.
The head of the breeding association cannot understand the advance of the environment minister.
“It's a shame that more and more agricultural added value is migrating abroad.
Neighboring countries like Austria would export their animals to third countries unhindered.
Presslaber fears that cattle breeding will suffer a similar fate as many industries as a result of a ban: "Then it would be better to produce cheap abroad."
Veterinary office wants to continue to look critically
The veterinary office wants to stick to its approach, emphasizes Stadler.
Although the court has set a precedent, no papers will be issued for the transports if there are any doubts about compliance with animal welfare requirements.
The official veterinarian has the full support of the legal department management and the district administrator.
For the future, there is hope for a Europe-wide uniform approach to exporting animals to third countries, says Stadler.
"So that the vets are no longer forced to act against their professional ethics."
so called
