The Canadian Food Inspection Agency revised its plan to impose stricter animal transport rules after being met by industry pressure – setting aside scientific evidence in favour of economic concerns, according to internal documents.

For more than 10 years, the federal agency has been working to update its transport rules for the meat industry to ensure its regulations are “modern and meet international standards, and are supported by science.” By 2013, the agency had put together a plan to drastically reduce the length of time animals can be transported without food, water and rest – in some cases cutting that time in half or more.

But internal CFIA documents obtained by the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals, an animal welfare group, and reviewed by The Globe and Mail illustrate how concerns from the meat industry about “negative economic impacts” persuaded the agency to increase allowable transport times for the majority of species.

In the case of day-old chicks, for example, the CFIA’s 2013 plan proposed a maximum of 24 hours in transport. By the time the proposal was published in December in the Canada Gazette, the federal government’s official newspaper, that had been changed to 72 hours. In the case of cattle, 28 hours had become 36 hours. And with spent hens (older laying hens sold for meat once they no longer readily produce eggs), the limit had doubled to 24 hours from 12. Spent hens – which tend to be weaker – are categorized separately because of their vulnerable condition.

CFIA’s animal transport rules have not been updated since 1977 and, depending on the species, currently allow for transport times of 18 to 72 hours. Once the maximum is reached, the animals must be given a rest period. Europe only allows most animals to be transported for a maximum of eight hours. In New Zealand and Australia, the limits generally fall between 12 and 24 hours. The rules in the United States, which have been subject to criticism from animal-rights groups, allow transport up to 28 hours.

In CFIA’s briefing notes and in correspondence among staff, agency officials acknowledge that shorter transport times – generally between eight and 12 hours – are ideal.

“Scientific research supports the lowest possible FWR for [redacted],” one briefing note reads, referring to food, water and rest intervals. Another discusses a 12-hour maximum as “supported by science.” Meanwhile, research papers cited in the briefings describe “increased stress” and “behavioural changes” associated with longer transport times.

But throughout, CFIA employees describe industry push-back. In a document from July, 2015, staffers say one unidentified group “continues to voice strong opposition” to reduced transport times, citing “significant negative economic impact.” Another document outlines how an unidentified group warned that reduced transport times “would result in cessation” of an industry.

As a result, the agency altered its original proposal. “CFIA initially proposed 12 hours for [redacted] this was based on research and the needs of [redacted],” a CFIA manager wrote in a 2016 e-mail. “CFIA is now proposing 24 hours as a result of industry concerns.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/cfia-bows-to-meat-industry-on-animal-transport-rules-documents-show/article34333265/