Today, the Environment Secretary will launch an eight week consultation on ending the live export of animals for slaughter and fattening – which we have been unable to do under EU rules – the first step towards delivering our manifesto commitment to end this unnecessary practice and strengthen animal welfare.
Rebecca is pleased that as we leave the EU, the Government are committed to strengthening existing standards and to improving the welfare of animals at all stages at life.
That is why we are bringing forward proposals to end live exports of animals for slaughter, delivering on our promise to end this unnecessary practice at the first opportunity once we are no longer bound by EU rules.
This will ensure that animals are spared stress prior to slaughter and enhance the UK’s reputation as a place where animals are reared humanely and in a sustainable way.
The Government is also consulting on proposals to further improve animal welfare in transport more generally, such as:
- reduced maximum journey times
- animals being given more space and headroom during transport
- stricter rules on transporting animals in extreme temperatures
- tighter rules for transporting live animals by sea
An impact assessment has been prepared to outline the possible costs and benefits of the proposed reforms, which will be published during the consultation period.
Rebecca Harris MP commented:
“I am pleased that the Government is delivering on our manifesto commitment to improve animal welfare. It is vital that we improve the welfare of animals at all stages of life.
“Now that we have left the EU, we have an opportunity to end this unnecessary practice. This is the first of many steps in strengthening our already high animal welfare standards, which has only been made possible through leaving the EU.”
This consultation takes into account the responses to the 2018 Call for Evidence, as well as the report published by the then Farm Animal Welfare Committee (now known as the Animal Welfare Committee), which is made up of farming and veterinary experts, into the existing welfare standards for animals during transport.
This announcement marks the start of renewed efforts from Government to raise standards on animal welfare even further now we are outside the EU, including taking steps to ban primates as pets and crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies, with further proposals to improve standards and eradicate cruel practices expected to be set out in the coming months. Ending live exports for slaughter and fattening signals our intention to continue being a world leader in animal welfare by maintaining and strengthening our already high animal welfare standards.
The consultation can be accessed here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/transforming-farm-animal-health-and-welfare-team/improvements-to-animal-welfare-in-transport/.
