In a recent report that summarised its activity for the year, Avianza, the Spanish Interprofessional Association of Poultry Meat, reiterated its position on the European Union's new regulation on the transport of livestock, which is already in force. 

Under the new regulations, when temperatures of between 25-30°C are forecast travel is only permitted between 21h00 and 10h00. Based on average temperatures in Spain, operations would have to take place at night from May to October, said Avian. 

The new regulations also reduced the allowance for the number of animals per square meter inside trucks. Maximum travel times are set at 12 hours including loading and unloading if the destination is a processing room, and 24 hours for chicks being transported 48 hours after hatching.

The regulations also state that loading and unloading must be supervised by a veterinarian.

"This regulation means having to increase the truck fleet by 22% (about 505 more trucks per week), increasing the costs of night work, both for truck drivers and veterinarians and personnel involved in loading/unloading," Avianza's report stated. "Likewise, as the fleet increases, CO2 emissions, fuel consumption, etc. will increase, making this regulation less efficient than the one applied so far." 

In addition, Avianza noted that extended travel times will have a drastic influence on exports.