The Hoek van Holland Animal Centre (ACH) is situated at the terminal of the Stena Line and is jointly operated by ECS Livestock and Stena Line, the company said in its release.

The Hoek van Holland checkpoint is the only location in the Dutch seaports where live animals can be subjected to veterinary inspection, rendering the port of Rotterdam special.

Since 1 January of this year, the date on which the Brexit transition period ended, the inspection of animals coming from the United Kingdom has been mandatory.

For the inspection of day-old chicks and hatching eggs, the European Commission has now provided the green light to ACH. It is anticipated that an additional permit to inspect horses will be issued later this month.

Stena Line is one of the main operators of the North Sea ferry to and from the British ports of Harwich and Killingholme carrying this form of livestock.

The veterinarians of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) will perform inspections at the facilities of ACH on the Stena Line site. Stable space is now available for seven horses.

Maritime Business World