1.Where a competent authority finds that any provision of this Regulation is not being complied with, or has not been complied with, it shall take, or require the person responsible for the animals to take, any necessary action required to safeguard the welfare of the animals.
Such action shall not be likely to cause unnecessary or additional suffering to the animals and shall be proportionate to the seriousness of the risks involved. The Competent authority shall recover the costs of such action in the appropriate manner.
2.Depending on the circumstances of each case, such action may include:
(a)a change of driver or attendant;
(b)temporarily repairing the means of transport so as to prevent immediate injury to the animals;
(c)transferring the consignment or part of it to another means of transport;
(d)returning the animals to their place of departure by the most direct route, or allow the animals to continue to their place of destination by the most direct route, whichever is in the best interest of the welfare of the animals;
(e)unloading the animals and holding them in suitable accommodation with appropriate care until the problem is resolved.
Where there is no other means of safeguarding the welfare of the animals, they shall be humanely killed or euthanised.
3.Where action is to be taken due to non-compliance with this Regulation as referred to in paragraph 1, and it is necessary to transport the animals in breach of some of the provisions of this Regulation, the competent authority shall issue an authorisation for the transport of the animals. The authorisation shall identify the animals concerned and define the conditions under which they may be transported until this Regulation is fully complied with. Such authorisation shall accompany the animals.
4.The competent authority shall immediately arrange to have the necessary measures carried out if the person responsible for the animals cannot be contacted or fails to comply with instructions.
5.Decisions taken by the competent authorities and the reasons for such decisions shall be notified as soon as possible to the transporter or his representative and to the competent authority which granted the authorisation as provided for in Article 10(1) or Article 11(1). If necessary the competent authorities shall provide assistance to the transporter to facilitate implementation of the required emergency measures.