Communication of standards on animal welfare during transport are relevant to both international trade as well as cooperation with worldwide partners, who play a significant role in promoting and implementing them. Such standards are included in the provisions of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The European Union adopted Council Regulation (CE) No. 1/2005, where harmonised rules are set for animal welfare during transport in and between the Member States. Moreover, in 2015, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that, for the transport of animals involving a long journey starting from EU territory and continuing outside of it, the organiser of the transport from the EU is responsible for the welfare of animals for the entire journey, up to the final point in the third country. For a uniform implementation of animal welfare standards during maritime transport, the Network Document on Livestock Vessels was drafted in 2014 by a working group of the European Commission (EC) and Member State experts. This document has recently been updated. The Workshop represents a valuable opportunity to discuss the need to promote harmonized guidelines regarding the requirements for the authorisation and official control of maritime exports of live animals.