Regulation No. 968 on official controls – animal welfare during the transport of live animals on livestock transport vessels (Regulation (EU) 2023/372 and Regulation (EU) 2023/842).

This Regulation incorporates two EU instruments into national law and establishes a framework for official controls on animal welfare during the transport of live animals by sea. It applies to vessels transporting livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses, and gives precedence to the EU regulations in case of conflict. The rules focus on ensuring that vessels are properly approved, inspected, and monitored, with authorities (notably the Norwegian Food Safety Authority) empowered to supervise compliance, issue decisions, and impose sanctions where necessary.
At the EU level, the incorporated regulations introduce detailed operational requirements: they mandate a shared electronic database to record vessel approvals and inspection histories, require systematic inspections before loading and during voyages, and establish minimum welfare safeguards, including contingency planning for emergencies. Inspections must be carried out by multidisciplinary teams (including veterinarians and maritime experts), and authorities must verify factors such as vessel design, animal space, ventilation, and overall conditions during transport. Additional rules ensure proper infrastructure at ports (e.g. control stations) and require documentation, reporting, and even visual evidence (photos/videos) to support enforcement and improve consistency across states.