so that the animals obtain maximum benefit from fresh air inlets. 2. The person in charge of the welfare of the animals shall have access to them so that they can be inspected and, if necessary, cared for, watered and fed during the journey. 3. Road vehicles, rail wagons and containers shall be equipped with a sufficient number of adequately designed, positioned and maintained securing points enabling them to be securely fastened to the vessel. Road vehicles, rail wagons and containers shall be secured to the ship before the start of the sea journey to prevent them being displaced by the motion of the vessel. 4. Road vehicles and rail wagons containing animals shall only be transported on the open deck of a vessel in a position that provides adequate protection from sea water, taking account of the protection which the road vehicle or rail wagon itself provides. 5. An alarm shall be fitted to detect any power failure in the forced ventilation system of the vessel. An adequate secondary source of power shall be provided to ensure that appropriate forced ventilation is maintained. 6. Arrangements shall be made to supply the animals with fresh water and feed in case of unforeseen delays or if otherwise necessary. 7. In case of emergency, if transport lasts more than two hours, it shall be possible to kill an animal in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 25 of this Convention. To that end, a means of killing suitable to the species shall be available. Article 30 Special provisions for transport by air 1. No animals shall be transported in conditions where air quality, temperature and pressure cannot be maintained within an appropriate range during the entire journey. 2. The commander shall be advised of the species, location and quantity of all live animals aboard the aircraft, together with any action required. For animals in accessible cargo compartments, the commander shall be notified of any irregularity relating to the animals as soon as possible. 3. Animals shall be loaded in the aircraft as close as possible to the aircraft's planned time of departure. 4. Drugs shall only be used when a specific problem exists and shall be administered by a veterinarian or by another competent person who has been instructed in their use. The commander shall be informed as soon as possible of any drugs administered in flight. 5. In the case of emergency and where an attendant has access to the animals, in accordance with Article 25 of this Convention, a means of sedation and/or euthanasia, suitable to the species, shall be available and only used with the agreement of the commander. 6. The attendant shall be briefed on the in-flight communication procedure prior to flight departure and be able to effectively communicate with the crew. MULTILATERAL CONSULTATIONS Article 31 Multilateral consultations 1. The Parties shall, within five years from the entry into force of this Convention and every five years thereafter, or more frequently if a majority of the Parties should so request, hold multilateral consultations within the Council of Europe. 2. These consultations shall take place at meetings convened by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe. 3. Each Party shall have the right to appoint one or more representatives to participate in these consultations. The Parties shall communicate the name(s) of their representative(s) to the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe at least one month before each meeting. Each Party shall have the right to vote. Each State which is Party to the Convention shall have one vote. 4. Within the areas of its competence, the European Community, on becoming Party to the Convention, shall exercise its right to vote with a number of votes equal to the number of its Member States which are Parties to this Convention; the European Community shall not exercise its right to vote in cases where the Member States concerned exercise theirs, and conversely. 5. The Parties may seek the advice of experts. They may, on their own initiative or at the request of the body concerned, invite any international or national, governmental or non-governmental body technically qualified in the fields covered by this Convention to be represented by an observer at one or part of one of its consultations. The decision to invite such experts or bodies shall be taken by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. 6. After each consultation, the Parties shall submit to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe a report on the consultation and the functioning of the Convention. 7. Subject to the provisions of this Convention, the Parties shall draw up the rules of procedure for the consultations. Article 32 Functions of multilateral consultations Within the framework of multilateral consultations, the Parties shall be responsible for following the application of this Convention. They may in particular: (a) prepare technical protocols to this Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article 34; (b) suggest any necessary modifications to this Convention and examine those proposed in accordance with