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WELFARE RISKS MOVE TO THE FOREFRONT OF ANIMAL LOGISTICS


07 BY Anastasiya SIMSEK


PRESSURE on live animal transport is rising from all sides, and the industry is being judged less on capacity or speed than on how consistently it can safeguard welfare under real operating conditions. Regulatory scrutiny is intensifying, public expectations are shifting, and operational disruption remains a constant variable. For carriers, handlers , and forwarders preparing for the upcoming ATA conference, the central question is no longer whether standards exist, but whether the system around them is strong enough to uphold them. The most immediate pressures sit where logistics realities intersect with biological limits. As Filip Vande


Cappelle of the Animal Transportation Association (ATA) put it, “The biggest challenges sit at the intersection of welfare and operations, with regulation adding complexity.” Tight connection windows, aircraft capacity constraints , and irregular operations such as delays or diversions can quickly turn routine shipments into welfare risks. These vulnerabilities are structural rather than temporary, meaning they cannot be solved through individual shipments alone , but require systemic planning. Demand trends are adding another layer of complexity. Companion animal movements continue to grow,


particularly relocations and premium pet transport, while livestock and equine shipments remain cyclical and sensitive to trade conditions. At the same time, there is rising demand for specialised and high-value movements, such as competition horses, breeding stock , or zoological animals, which require more coordination, documentation , and expertise than standard consignments. The diversification of shipment types is forcing operators to manage a broader range of risk profiles within the same networks.


Standards exist, implementation doesn’t always follow Industry rules are not the main constraint. The Live Animals Regulations are widely accepted as the global baseline, yet consistency in how they are applied varies significantly across the supply chain. Major carriers and established hubs tend to enforce them rigorously, but gaps persist at smaller stations, subcontracted handlers , and during disruption scenarios. Weak points often appear before departure or after arrival, particularly in pre-acceptance checks, contingency planning , and post-arrival care. Addressing those gaps requires a shift in mindset from documentation to preparedness. Vande Lodi-Berk,


Vice President of the Animal Transportation Association, stressed that “Preparation and empowerment matter more than reactive fixes.” That principle extends beyond airlines and handlers to government agencies, whose processing times can directly affect animal welfare outcomes. Customs and veterinary authorities, he noted, must also ensure shipments move quickly , because the system functions only as well as its slowest stage. Training remains a critical constraint. While specialist instruction exists, coverage is uneven , and expertise is still concentrated among a relatively small group of professionals. Expanding recurrent training, developing species-specific modules , and embedding welfare awareness into warehouse and ramp culture are all viewed as practical steps to improve consistency. The goal, as Vande Cappelle emphasised, is competence rather than certification.


Species complexity reshaping logistics Different animal categories now face distinct operational barriers, making a uniform approach increasingly impractical. Equine transport must navigate strict biosecurity protocols, aircraft compatibility limits , and the availability of trained attendants. Exotic and zoological animals encounter complex permitting requirements and restricted routing options. Livestock shipments remain vulnerable to political decisions, sanitary controls , and weather exposure, while pets face growing regulatory scrutiny and airline-specific policy variation, particularly for brachycephalic breeds. This fragmentation is pushing operators toward more tailored planning models. Instead of applying standard


procedures across all shipments, forwarders and carriers are having to design species-specific workflows that account for physiological needs, legal requirements , and infrastructure availability. That shift reflects a broader trend in air cargo: specialisation is replacing uniformity as shipments become more complex and customer expectations rise. Technology is beginning to change how animal transport is monitored, but its impact depends heavily on


integration rather than innovation alone. Real-time tracking, environmental sensors measuring temperature or humidity , and digital documentation systems are already improving oversight. The challenge lies in ensuring data can be used operationally rather than simply collected. Electronic documentation is one of the most anticipated developments. Wider adoption of digital health


certificates, in particular, could reduce administrative delays and errors across borders. The benefits extend beyond efficiency. Faster document processing shortens transit times and reduces stress exposure for animals, linking digitalisation directly to welfare outcomes rather than treating it as a purely administrative upgrade. The ATA’s approach to improving standards reflects a broader shift in how compliance is managed across


the sector. Rather than focusing solely on enforcement, the association works through information sharing, training initiatives , and dialogue with regulators, including WOAH, IATA, the European Commission , and USDA/APHIS. Acting as an intermediary between operational stakeholders and authorities allows practical constraints to be factored into regulatory expectations. That cooperative model is increasingly important as oversight expands. Authorities are placing greater


emphasis on transparency, data-driven audits , and traceability , signalling that future compliance frameworks will rely as much on demonstrable processes as on written procedures. In that environment, industry credibility depends on showing not only that rules are followed , but that systems exist to prove they are followed consistently. Looking ahead, policy direction suggests welfare considerations will become more central to market access.


Stronger legislation, particularly in Europe, is likely to tighten requirements , while sustainability debates are beginning to include ethical transport standards alongside environmental performance. For operators, the implication is strategic rather than procedural. As Vande Cappelle observed, “Responsible animal transport is no longer a niche capability—it’s a core credibility issue for air cargo.”


www.aircargoweek.com 06 APRIL2026 ACW


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