In order to reduce the stress of transport, due regard shall be paid to the need of certain categories of animals, such as wild animals, to become acclimatised to the mode of transport prior to the proposed journey. 3. Mixing of animals that have not been raised together or are not accustomed to one another shall be avoided as far as possible. LOADING AND UNLOADING Article 12 Principles 1. Animals shall be loaded and unloaded in such a way as to ensure that they are not caused injury or suffering. 2. Animals shall be loaded so as to ensure that space allowances (floor area and height) and separation requirements are met in accordance with Article 17. 3. Animals shall be loaded as close as possible to the time of departure from the place of dispatch. 4. On arrival at their destination, the animals shall be unloaded as soon as possible, offered an adequate quantity of water and, if necessary, be fed and allowed to rest. Article 13 Equipment and procedures 1. Loading and unloading shall take place using a properly designed and constructed ramp, lift or loading bay except where animals are to be loaded and unloaded in purpose-built containers. Manual lifting is permissible if the animals are small enough, and even desirable in the case of young animals which might have difficulty in negotiating a ramp. All loading and unloading facilities shall be suitable for their purpose, stable and maintained in a good state of repair. 2. All ramps and surfaces on which animals walk shall be designed and maintained so as to prevent slipping and their slope shall be minimised as far as possible. Where their slope is steeper than 10°, they shall be fitted with a system, such as provided by foot battens, which ensures that the animals climb or go down without risks or difficulties. The equipment shall be provided with side barriers if necessary. 3. The interior of the transport unit shall be well-lit at loading so that the animals can see where they are going, depending upon the specific requirements of the species. 4. Animals shall be loaded only into a means of transport which has been thoroughly cleaned and, where appropriate, disinfected. 5. Goods which are being transported in the same means of transport as animals shall be positioned so that they do not cause injury, suffering or distress to the animals. 6. When containers loaded with animals are placed one on top of the other on the means of transport, the necessary precautions shall be taken to avoid urine and faeces falling on the animals placed underneath. Article 14 Handling 1. Animals shall be handled calmly and gently in order to reduce unrest and agitation to a minimum, and in order to protect the animals from avoidable pain, distress and injury. 2. Noise, harassment and the use of excessive force during loading and unloading shall be avoided. Animals shall not be struck, nor shall pressure be applied to any particularly sensitive part of the body. In particular, animals' tails shall not be crushed, twisted or broken and their eyes shall not be grasped. Animals shall not be punched or kicked. 3. Animals themselves shall not be suspended by mechanical means, lifted or dragged by the head, ears, horns, antlers, legs, tail or fleece, or in any other painful way. 4. Instruments intended for guiding animals shall be used on animals solely for that purpose. The use of instruments which administer electric shocks shall be avoided as far as possible. In any case, these instruments shall only be used for adult bovine animals and adult pigs which refuse to move, and only when they have room ahead of them in which to move. Shocks shall last no longer than one second, be adequately spaced, and shall only be applied to the muscles of the hindquarters. Shocks shall not be used repeatedly if the animal fails to respond. 5. Persons handling animals shall not use prods or other implements with pointed ends. Sticks or other implements intended for guiding animals shall only be used provided they can be applied to the body of an animal without causing it injury or suffering. Article 15 Separation 1. Animals shall be separated during transport where injury or suffering is likely to occur if they are mixed. This shall apply in particular to: (a) animals of different species; (b) animals hostile to each other; (c) animals of significantly different sizes or ages; (d) uncastrated adult males; (e) tied and untied animals. 2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply where the animals have been raised in compatible groups, are accustomed to each other, where separation will cause distress or where females are accompanied by dependent young. TRANSPORT PRACTICES Article 16 Floors and bedding The floor surfaces of