George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, will lay a number of key amendments to the Animal Welfare report currently before the European Agriculture Committee as the European Parliament meets in Strasbourg this week.

George Lyon MEPMr Lyon's amendments will remove calls for new animal transport rules and will insert in there place a demand that the EU Commission concentrate on enforcing the current rules which were updated in 2005 as the most effective way of improving the welfare of animals in transport.

He will also call for common animal welfare standards across Europe to apply to third country imports as well.

Commenting, Mr Lyon said:

"Improving animal welfare across Europe is very important but the Commission must realise that the key issue is not more rules and regulations but a renewed commitment to enforcing of the current ones, especially in relation to transport.

"The Commission must get tough with EU countries that fail to properly enforce the current rules.

"There are still too many horror stories of pigs and horses being transported across Europe with no food, water or rest stops because of a failure to police the trade properly.

"It is also important that common welfare rules across Europe are applied to third country imports and I will lay amendments to that effect.

"The Commission should drop their plans for more regulation and instead concentrate on enforcement."