Dutch Fines for Irish Carriers Transporting Unweaned Calves

Dutch food safety authorities are imposing administrative penalty orders on four Irish livestock transport operators for failing to feed unweaned dairy calves during long-distance journeys to mainland Europe, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The enforcement action targets transport operations moving calves from Ireland through France to the Netherlands, where approximately 200,000 animals arrive annually primarily for veal production, as regulators crack down on systemic feed deprivations that breach European Union transport regulations.

## Enforcement Rules and Escalating Fines for Transporters

Irish transporters bringing unweaned calves into the Netherlands will initially receive a formal warning and a 12-month grace period to establish what regulators term a more humane and animal-friendly transport method, according to the NVWA. After that 12-month window closes, non-compliant operators face escalating financial penalties for rules breaches.

A first violation after the warning period carries a fine of €3,000, according to Dutch regulatory documents. That financial penalty increases to €9,000 for a third rules breach, and rises to €27,000 for a fourth rules breach. These rigorous mandates apply specifically to any carriers moving unweaned calves both into and out of the Netherlands who have been issued a conditional penalty order.

## Sea Crossings and Logistical Challenges in Feeding Calves

The NVWA stated that the violation posing the greatest risk of suffering to the calves occurs at sea during the crossing between Ireland and France. While roughly 200,000 Irish calves leave the country every year for mainland Europe, Dutch officials told RTÉ News that calves dependent on milk feeding must receive proper nutrition throughout the entire journey.

“This is currently not the case,” Dutch officials stated. “During the long sea voyage from Ireland to the control post in France, and subsequently by road to the Netherlands, these very young and vulnerable animals are not fed.”

Based on NVWA findings, the delivery vehicles lack proper feeding apparatus for dispensing warm milk, and every single calf requires individual assistance to feed. Regulators noted that assisting individual calves during transit is practically impossible in a fully loaded vehicle. Furthermore, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends that unweaned calves should not be transported by truck for more than eight hours.

## Reactions from Animal Welfare Groups and Regulators

Annebeth van Aartsen, a veterinarian at the NVWA, explained the reasoning behind the agency’s strict stance. “We have to stand up for these vulnerable animals that need to be taken care of,” van Aartsen said. “We tried to discuss this at EU level but no actions have been taken. We want to send a signal to the European Commission and are hoping that giving transporters a year before imposing fines gives us time to start a conversation at EU level.”

Animal welfare groups immediately welcomed the intervention from Dutch regulators. Caroline Rowley, director of Ethical Farming Ireland, praised the decision while criticizing the lack of local action. “It’s great to see an authority finally taking a stand to ensure legislation is respected,” Rowley said. “It’s just a shame this action isn’t coming from Ireland. Numerous studies have proven how much these young and vulnerable animals suffer due to extended feed deprivation during these long journeys so we very much welcome this move by the NVWA.”

Ethologist and Eyes on Animals Director Lesley Moffat pointed to fieldwork as the catalyst for the investigation. “Legislation only protects animals if someone actually checks what happens along the way,” Moffat said. “We recorded the journey times and documented that calves barely three weeks old were left without milk for more than 30 hours. That fieldwork forms the basis for the enforcement request that has now finally prompted the NVWA to take action.”

Frederieke Schouten, a veterinarian with the animal welfare group Dier&Recht, emphasized the physical limitations of current transport configurations. “The calves must be given warm milk individually during the journey, but this is not practically feasible in a fully loaded truck,” Schouten said. “The calves are still far too young and need help drinking from a teat.”

## Industry Response and Ferry Route Changes

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), which represents dairy farmers in Ireland, stated that it is currently studying the announcement and its implications and will comment in due course.

Meanwhile, transport routes across the Irish Sea continue to shift. In March of last year, Brittany Ferries resumed transporting live animals on its Rosslare to Cherbourg route after a 30-year break. The move sparked sustained protests from animal welfare groups at ports. Following the campaign, Brittany Ferries confirmed it would cease live farm animal transports from Ireland to France starting in the autumn. Stena Line previously ceased live animal transports on its Rosslare-Cherbourg route in 2025, leaving Irish Ferries as the sole company facilitating such transit to the European continent.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon stated that his department remains ready to assess and approve vessels that might be made available to transport livestock out of Ireland.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why are Dutch authorities fining Irish livestock transporters?
The NVWA is penalizing transport operators for failing to feed unweaned dairy calves during long journeys from Ireland through France to the Netherlands, which violates EU transport regulations.

### How much are the fines for violating the new rules?
After a 12-month warning period, transporters face a fine of €3,000 for a first offense, €9,000 for a third rules breach, and €27,000 for a fourth offense.

### How do unweaned calves travel from Ireland to the Netherlands?
Calves are typically transported via sea from Ireland to France, before making the remainder of the journey via road transport to the Netherlands.

### What do animal welfare groups say about the transport conditions?
Welfare organizations report that unweaned calves can go more than 24 to 30 hours without milk, leading to dehydration, hypoglycaemia, weakness, and death en route.