The European Parliament has voted to set up an Inquiry Committee to look into allegations of animal welfare violations during transport.

The motion to set up the inquiry was carried with a 605-vote majority.

Many MEPs said it was a great move in the right direction for animal welfare. The inquiry proposal states that “the Commission has been regularly informed of systematic and severe violations occurring during the transport of live animals”.

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The committee will look into the welfare of animals during transport, both inside and outside the EU by air, road, rail or by ship.

Reports have emerged in the past of Irish calves being abused in French lairage facilities, where roughly 200,000 calves exported from Ireland spend time during the spring calving season.

The inquiry committee will be made up of 30 MEPs who are yet to be selected and will have 12 months from the date of its establishment to deliver a report.

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