National/Federal Transport Regulations for Canada, the United States, and Mexico
(State and Provincial laws may vary and are not included in this summary)
Overall Transport Limits Required
Canada - No
United States - No
Mexico - No
Food, Water, and Rest Periods Required
Canada - Yes
Horses and Pigs - 36 hour limit before 5 hour rest, food and water, unless animals are fed, watered, and rested on suitable vehicle.
Cattle, Sheep, and Goats - 48 hour limit before 5 hour rest unless fed, watered, and rested on suitable vehicle or if they can reach their final destination within 52 hours.
United States - Yes
Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Pigs - 28 hour limit before 5 hour rest, food and water unless animals are fed, watered, and rested on the vehicle. Animals may be confined for 36 consecutive hours upon the request of the owner or the person having custody of the animals.
Sheep may be confined for an additional 8 consecutive hours when the 28-hour period of confinement ends at night.
Horses - 28 hour limit before 6 hours rest, food, and water.
Mexico - No
Official Mexican Norms set forth recommendations but are not enforced as mandatory.
Pre Transport Requirements
Canada - Yes
Animals may not be loaded for a trip of more than 24 hours without first providing food and water within 5 hours before loading.
United States - No
Mexico - No
Handling Requirements
Canada - Yes
"No person shall beat an animal being loaded or unloaded in a way likely to cause injury or undue suffering to it."
United States - No*
Humane handling requirements under the Humane Slaughter Act only apply to activities taking place on the premises of slaughter plants.
Mexico - Yes*
Beating or any action contrary to humane treatments is explicitly prohibited.
Animals must never be tied by the feet or by any method that could strangle them.
Stocking Densities Required
Canada - Yes
Non specific. Animals may not be crowded to such an extent as to cause "injury or undue suffering." Animals must be allowed to stand in "natural position."
United States - No
Mexico - No*
Norm 51 indicates that transportation cars should not be overloaded and ventilations should be provided according to the weather. But is not enforced as mandatory.
Transport of Downed Animals Prohibited
Canada - Yes
It is illegal to load, transport and unload non-ambulatory animals.
"non-ambulatory animals, animals with a body condition score indicating emaciation or weakness, or animals with severe lameness, [sic] would endure additional suffering during the transportation process must not be transported except for veterinary treatment or diagnosis. This is true of any condition associated with pain that will be aggravated by transport."
United States - No*
*Federal law to prohibit transport of downed animals has been introduced.
Mexico - No
Transport of Sick and Injured Animals Prohibited
Canada - Yes
Animals may not be transported if they are sick or injured where "undue suffering will result"
In addition, animals liable to give birth may not be transported.
United States - No
Mexico - No
Regulations for the Transport of Sick, Injured, or Downed Animals
Canada - Yes
Non-ambulatory animals must be euthanized on the farm. Animals that become non-ambulatory during transit may be a) euthanized on the truck, b) stunned and bled out on the truck or c) stunned on the truck and unloaded and transferred to the bleeding area.
United States - Yes*
*Downed animals unloaded at slaughter plants are covered under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act but are not covered during loading at the farm or auction or during transit.
Mexico - No
On board Vehicle Requirements
Canada - Yes
Animals must be segregated if they are of different species or substantially different weights and ages or if they are incompatible by nature. Transport vessels must be (a) strewn with sand or fitted with secure footholds and (b) be littered with straw, wood shavings or other bedding material. *if transported for not more than 12 hours the transport vessel only need to comply with a or b
Drainage or absorption of urine required.
United States - Yes
For horses only.
Mexico - No
Accident/ Emergency Procedures
Canada - Yes
Voluntary codes include guidance for dealing with highway accidents involving farmed animals. Response teams trained and accidents tracked.
United States - No
Mexico - No
Driver Driving and Rest Requirements
Canada - Yes
13 hours of driving must be followed by at least 8 consecutive hours of off-duty time or after 15 hours on-duty whether driving or not. Drivers must keep written logs of work, rest, and distance traveled.
United States - Yes
Drivers may not drive more that 11 consecutive hours or work longer than 14 hours in a shift and must rest for at least 10 hours between shifts. Drivers must keep a record of duty status, in duplicate, for each 24 hour period or use an automatic on board recording device to record duty status including rest periods, driving time, and miles traveled.
Mexico - No
Animal Tracking Required
Canada - Yes
Ear tags for cattle only. Industry initiated and established program. Not used to track or enforce transport limits.
United States - No
Mexico - Yes
Horses must be identified with registered hot iron farm brands to prevent theft.
Enforcement Mechanisms
Canada - Yes
Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials are charged with monitoring compliance of regulations. Monitored through routine inspections at ports of entry registered establishments and auction markets and following reports of non-compliance.
United States - No*
No agency officially charged with enforcement of 28 hour law. Complaints of non-compliance referred to the Justice Department.
*USDA is charged with enforcing horse transport requirements.
Mexico - No
*State and Provincial laws may vary and are not included in this summary
