The first National Forum on Live Animal Transport, held in Lleida, has highlighted the sector's criticisms of European animal welfare regulations and working conditions. The meeting, promoted by the National Association of Live Animal Transporters (ANTA), 3tres3, and Mercolleida, brought together more than 200 representatives from the agri-food sector, public administrations, and experts.

Transporters expressed their frustration with daily difficulties, the lack of resources for loading, unloading, cleaning, and disinfection, and lamented not being sufficiently considered despite their essential role in the production chain. This demand was highlighted by Marc Póo, manager of ANTA.

A central point of debate was the proposed European animal welfare regulation presented in December 2023. ANTA reiterated the sector's rejection of this text, considering that it does not align with the daily reality of the activity. Professionals warned that increasing the space per animal in trucks could increase the risk of injuries due to swaying.

Furthermore, the penalization of transport in high external temperatures by Brussels was criticized, without considering the actual thermal sensation inside the vehicle. Marc Póo argued that assisted ventilation systems allow for a pleasant temperature of 25 degrees, even when the outside thermometer reads 30 degrees.

The association called for greater hourly flexibility when approaching the destination and clear protocols for unforeseen events such as traffic disruptions or delays at slaughterhouses. They also requested more significant consideration for delays caused by road blockades due to protests from other sectors.

The event also included an institutional round table to analyze coordination between different administrations, with the presence of members from the Catalan and state administrations, and the Mossos d'Esquadra.