27-10-2024 'Barking mad' EU finally see sense A STRATH musher has won a crusade to change an EU law - described as barking mad by one Euro MP - which could have destroyed sled dog racing in the UK and even on the Continent. Mr Alan Stewart, owner of the Cairngorm Sled Dog Centre by Aviemore, has been campaigning against an European Union ban on transporting more than five animals between member states. The legislation was brought in earlier this year as part of a crackdown on the inhumane trade in pets from so called 'puppy farms'. The tightening of regulations on travelling with more than five dogs at a time was intended to prevent lorryloads of animals being transported across borders. However, the rules meant that professional sled dog handlers, who run teams of 12 dogs and often travel with up to 20 animals, were not able to compete at international level. "From our point of view it was totally crazy - the new law would have destroyed sled dog racing at a professional level in this country," Mr Stewart said. "Can you imagine what the reaction would be if the manager of a football team was told he could only take five members of his team to compete internationally? "That's what these rules effectively would have meant for us." Mr Stewart was the first sled dog handler to raise the alarm warning that the regulation - also affecting cats and ferrets - would have a huge impact on the sport, adding unnecessary financial and bureaucratic pressures. He contacted Scotland MEP George Lyon and local MSP Fergus Ewing as part of his fight to save the sport. It meant those wishing to travel with more than five non-commercial animals had to be in possession of special animal passports after veterinary examination. Following concerns raised by the industry and representations made by Mr Lyon, John Dalli, European Commissioner for health and consumer policy, set up a working group to look into its impacts on sled dog racing. Yesterday, (Tuesday), it emerged the group had agreed to a compromise position which essentially gives greater flexibility to the regulation. Rather than having to apply for the passports, with all the paperwork and cost that would entail, sled dog teams will now be granted a license which will last for four months and allow them to travel to events across Europe. The working group has now agreed to this change and the proposal has now been passed onto the College of Commissioners for approval. Mr Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, said: "The Commissioner has assured me that the concerns of sled dog teams had been taken on board. "He agreed that greater flexibility was needed in the regulation so that the sport does not suffer. "The new license will allow competitors to travel to events across Europe without the need to apply for a commercial passport. "This is a welcome development and I hope the College of Commissioners will agree to it quickly so Scotland's sled dog teams can get back on track for next year's world championships." Mr Stewart said he was relieved to hear about the change of heart in Europe. "I am grateful the EU has seen sense and would like to thank George Lyons for acting on the letter I sent him back in August. The young dogs I have here will see the Alps next year thanks to his help and interest. "I work and train my dogs every day so they can race there against the best in Europe. For a while there I thought we might not return to those extreme events. "Now we can look forward and get back on track to what we do here - run and train sleddogs for 700 mile sleddog races," he added. "As they say, it's now happy trails all round." Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber MSP Fergus Ewing said the sport was immensely valuable to the area and paid tribute to Mr Stewart's for sounding the alarm. "Alan Stewart is the person that has got dog sledding back to the Highlands and is well known in the area and internationally as a leading exponent and passionate advocate of his sport - as is his son, John. "Plainly it would be unfair and absurd if this sport were to be threatened by any EU red tape." Several thousand people come to the strath each year in connection with sled dog racing. As well as visitors to the Cairngorm Sleddog Centre, the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain rally - the largest gathering of its kind in Britain - is held at the end of January, every year, at Glenmore. The husky club had said prior to the change of heart that said some members would find it difficult to train in Alpine snow and warned it would hinder efforts to attract foreign competitors to its race in Aviemore, which brought an estimated £400,000 to the local economy this year. Mr Struan Stevenson, a Scottish Conservative MEP, had protested that the regulation - which came into force in May - was "barking mad". "By limiting the number to five, Brussels has effectively killed off this sport," he had remarked. "This is a completely unacceptable infringement of our citizens' freedom to travel with their pet dogs in the pursuit of their sport. The full press story and comments can be veiwed here: Strathspey Herald. Back to News & Events Archive