On 1 July 1999, new European Union (EU) regulations which provide additional welfare protection for cattle, sheep, goats and pigs transported by road on journeys of greater than 8h will come into force. The European Council's new Regulation, which expands provisions under Directive 91/628/EEC, sets out further standards for road vehicles used for long-distance livestock transport. These cover aspects of bedding, feed, access, ventilation, partitions and water supply. The Regulation requires vehicles to be fitted with partitions to enable compartmentalization of space, and that they are equipped to enable direct access to the animals at all times for inspection, care, feeding and watering. There must also be ventilation systems which adequately meet the physiological needs of the animals in the weather conditions under which they are transported - and these must maintain suitable conditions whether the vehicle is moving or stationary. To this end, operators must ensure that temperature is monitored, and provide either a forced ventilation system (details of which are to be set later) or a ventilation system which ensures that a range of temperatures from 5 to 30°C can be maintained. Other points address the provision of feed and water.