First livestock checkpoint in the port of Rotterdam
A livestock
checkpoint has been operational in the port of Rotterdam since January 8, 2021.
The Animal Centre
Hoek van Holland (ACH) is located at the Stena Line terminal and is run jointly
by ECS Livestock and Stena Line.
The checkpoint where live animals undergo veterinary inspection,
unique to port of Rotterdam
The checkpoint in
Hoek van Holland is the only place in the Dutch seaports where live animals can
undergo veterinary inspection, making it unique to the port of Rotterdam. The
inspection of animals coming from the United Kingdom has been mandatory since 1
January this year, the date on which the Brexit transition period ended.
The European
Commission has now given the green light to ACH for the inspection of day-old
chicks and hatching eggs. An additional permit for inspecting horses is
expected to be granted later in this month.
ACH will begin inspecting horses as soon as the green light is given
for this too.
Stena Line is one
of the key ferry operators in the North Sea carrying this kind of livestock to
and from the British ports of Harwich and Killingholme. The Netherlands Food
and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) veterinarians will carry out the
inspections at ACH’s facilities on the Stena Line site. Stable space for seven
horses is already available. ACH will begin inspecting horses as soon as the
green light is given for this too.
