Mr. Aidan Cahill:

Yes, Article 33. This is a very good question. I want to emphasise that this is a draft that was produced by a unit within the Commission. It is a very early draft. The Commission has emphasised this in its communications with us as well. The next steps that take place in the Council will be very decisive, and we and all the other member states will make our views clear.

In terms of the independent certification body, the idea is for it to be an independent third party to scrutinise the first journey to a non-EU country. If, for instance, animals are sent to a country in Africa, the certification body will probably place one of its officers on the voyage. It will perhaps scrutinise the welfare impact on the animals while they travel, as well as the conditions in the third country. Yet, this is not currently specified in the legislation. This will all have to be debated and refined before it is finalised.