Organization of live animal transportation process in the Russian Federation

The paper covers the issues of organization of live animal transportation process in the Russian Federation as one of the factors of epidemiological risk associated with the spread of infectious animal disease pathogens. The legal framework, regulating the organization of live animal transportation using different vehicles, as well as quantitative data on live animal movements, taken from state veterinary information system “VetIS” (“Mercury” and “Cerberus” components) were analyzed. The analysis showed that live farmed animals are moved using all transportation means available, motor vehicles, planes, trains, ships as well as by driving. It was established that the major means of transport used to move live animals in the territory of the Russian Federation are motor vehicles. According to the analysis results 4.49 billion animals, including 4.41 billion poultry, 79.8 million large and small ruminants, pigs, horses, fur animals and bees were moved within the country in 2021. At the same time the number of issued veterinary accompanying documents for movements of cattle, poultry and pigs (i.e. in fact the transportations themselves) is much higher than the number of movements of other species. It was revealed that today only the movement of animals by railway is regulated in one way or another. The paper presents the suggestions to introduce the procedures aimed at improvement of biological safety and animal welfare during transportation. The results of the analysis performed can be used to optimize the control of animal transportation in the territory of the Russian Federation by competent authorities. 

1. National Biosecurity Standard for Livestock, Poultry and Deadstock Transportation. Available at: https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-health/ terrestrial-animals/biosecurity/standards-and-principles/transportation/ eng/1519235033628/1519235183948?chap=0#s3c1.

2. FAO. Improved Animal Health for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Livelihoods: Animal Production and Health Paper 153. Rome: FAO; 2002. 44 p. Available at: https://www.fao.org/3/y3542e/y3542e.pdf.

3. MacDiarmid S. C. The spread of pathogens through international trade. Introduction. Rev. Sci. Tech. 2011; 30 (1): 13–29. DOI: 10.20506/ rst.30.1.2015.

4. O sostoyanii epizooticheskoi obstanovki v Rossiiskoi Federatsii i predprinimaemykh protivoepizooticheskikh meropriyatiyakh po nedopushcheniyu massovykh zabolevaniisel’skokhozyaistvennykh zhivotnykh: postanovlenie Soveta Federatsii Federal’nogo sobraniya RF ot 28.06.2017 № 207-SF = Epidemiological situation in the Russian Federation and antiepidemic measures taken to prevent mass diseases in farmed animals: Ordinance of the Federation Council of the RF Federal Assembly No. 207- SF of 28.06.2017. Available at: https://docs.cntd.ru/document/456074703. (in Russ.)

5. Fèvre E. M., Bronsvoort B. M., Hamilton K. A., Cleaveland S. Animal movements and the spread of infectious diseases. Trends Microbiol. 2006; 14 (3): 125–131. DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2006.01.004.

6. Greger M. The long haul: risks associated with livestock transport. Biosecur. Bioterror. 2007; 5 (4): 301–311. DOI: 10.1089/bsp.2007.0028.

7. WOAH. Terrestrial Animal Health Code. General provisions. Vol. 1. Paris; 2022. Available at: https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/ codes-and-manuals/terrestrial-code-online-access.

8. Oveterinarii: Zakon RF ot 14.05.1993 № 4979-1 = On veterinary medicine: RF Law No. 4979-1 of 14.05.1993. Available at: https://www.consultant. ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_4438. (in Russ.)

9. Ob utverzhdenii Veterinarnykh pravil provedeniya regionalizatsii territorii Rossiiskoi Federatsii: prikaz Minsel’khoza Rossii ot 14.12.2015 № 635 = On approval of veterinary rules of Russian Federation regionalization: Order of RF MoANo. 635 of 14.12.2015. Available at: https://fsvps.gov.ru/ru/fsvps/ laws/4600.html. (in Russ.)

10. Reshenie ob ustanovlenii statusov regionov Rossiiskoi Federatsii po zaraznym boleznyam zhivotnykh i usloviyakh peremeshcheniya podkontrol’nykh gosvetnadzoru tovarov: utv. Rossel’khoznadzorom 20.01.2017 = Decision on establishment of infectious animal disease statuses in the Russian Federation regions and movement conditions of goods regulated by state veterinary surveillance: approved by Rosselkhoznadzor on 20.01.2017. Available at: https://fsvps.gov.ru/ru/fsvps/ laws/4857.html. (in Russ.)

11. Ob utverzhdenii Pravil perevozok zheleznodorozhnym transportom zhivotnykh: prikaz Mintransa Rossii ot 19.10.2020 № 427 = On approval of rules of animal transportation by railway: Order of RF Ministry of Transport No. 427 of 19.10.2020. Available at: http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202102150021. (in Russ.)

12. Rukovodstvo po gruzovym perevozkam na vnutrennikh vozdushnykh liniyakh Soyuza SSR (RGP): utv. MGA SSSR 20.08.1984 = Guidelines on cargo transportation byUSSR domestic airlines: approved byUSSR Ministry of Civil Aviation on 20.08.1984. Available at: https://e-ecolog.ru/docs/rwp-3GKzwnyUVDsMcIluCI/full. (in Russ.)

13. Vremennye veterinarno-sanitarnye pravila pri organizatsii peregona (perevozki) sel’skokhozyaistvennykh zhivotnykh na otgonnye pastbishcha: utv. GUV MSKh SSSR 04.09.1975 = Temporary animal health rules of driving (transportation) of farmed animals to distant pastures: approved by Chief Veterinary Department of the RF MoA on 04.09.1975. Available at: https:// base.garant.ru/70502260. (in Russ.)

14. Veterinarno-sanitarnye pravila perevozki zhivotnykh, ptitsy, ryby, produktov i syr’ya zhivotnogo proiskhozhdeniya avtomobil’nym transportom: utv. Gosagropromom SSSR 30.01.1986 № 432-5 = Animal health rules of transportation of animals, poultry, fish, food products and raw materials of animal origin by motor vehicles: approved by the USSR State Agriculture Committee No. 432-5 on 30.01.1986. Available at: https://legalacts.ru/doc/ veterinarno-sanitarnye-pravila-perevozki-zhivotnykh-ptitsy-ryby-produktov. (in Russ.)

15. Obshchie pravila perevozok gruzov avtomobil’nym transportom: utv. Minavtotransom RSFSR 30.07.1971 = General rules of transportation by road: approved by RSFSR Ministry of Motor Transport on 30.07.1971. Available at: https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_ doc_LAW_14117/05da6926bb6ffcb73fedbdc748099f1bbc9fcd98. (in Russ.)

16. Ob utverzhdenii Pravil perevozok gruzov avtomobil’nym transportom i o vnesenii izmenenii v punkt 2.1.1 Pravil dorozhnogo dvizheniya Rossiiskoi Federatsii: postanovlenie Pravitel’stva RF ot 21.12.2020 № 2200 = On approval of rules of cargo transportation by motor vehicles and amendment of Paragraph 2.1.1 of the Russian Federation Traffic Code: Ordinance of the RF Government No. 2200 of 21.12.2020. Available at: http://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_371981. (in Russ.)

17. Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amendingDirectives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No. 1255/97.Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX- %3A32005R0001.

18. Porta F., Mertin I., WaleyD. LiveAnimalTransport: Time to Change the Rules. Brussels; Eurogroup for Animals; 2021. Available at: https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/files/eurogroupforanimals/2021-12/2020_01_27_ efa_transport_white_paper_0.pdf.

19. Lapworth J. W. Engineering and design of vehiclesfor long distance road transport of livestock: the example of cattle transport in northern Australia. Vet. Ital. 2008; 44 (1): 215–222. PMID: 20405427.

20. Mitchell M. A., Kettlewell P. J. Engineering and design of vehiclesfor long distance road transport of livestock (ruminants, pigs and poultry). Vet. Ital. 2008; 44 (1): 201–213. PMID: 20405426.

21. Fike K., Spire M. F. Transportation of cattle. Vet. Clin. North Am. Food Anim. Pract. 2006; 22 (2): 305–320. DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2006.03.012.