End the export of live farm animals after Brexit.
The transport of live animals exported from the UK causes immense suffering. This trade is governed by EU law, not the UK Government. The Government should plan legislation to ban the export of live farm animals in favour of a carcass only trade and introduce this as soon as we leave the EU.
This petition closed on 19 Mar 2018 with 100,752 signatures
1. Debate on an e-petition relating to ending the export of live farm animals after the UK leaves the European Union
21/02/2018 - Parliamentary Research
Found: e-petition relating to ending the export of live farm animals after the UK leaves the EU By Elena Ares Dominic
2. Live Animal Exports
03/09/2019 - Parliamentary Research
Found: 8031 , 3 September2019 Live Animal Exports By Elena Ares Contents: 1. Live animal exports 2. EU regulations:
3. Animal welfare standards in farming after the UK leaves the EU
19/01/2017 - Parliamentary Research
Found: 2017 Animal welfare standards in farming after the UK leaves the EU David Hirst Jacqueline Baker Alison
4. Compassion in World Farming - written evidence
10/10/2018 - Inquiry: Agriculture Bill - Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
- View source
Found: not only the prevention of suffering but also the opportunity for animals to have positive experiences
5. Trophy Hunting
26/09/2019 - Parliamentary Research
Found: and conservation 5. EU and UK controls on trophy imports 6. UK Government position 2 Trophy Hunting
1. Leaving the EU: Live Farm Animal Exports
26/02/2018 - Westminster Hall
1: relating to ending the export of live farm animals after the UK leaves the EU.It is a pleasure - Speech Link
2. Animal Welfare (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
06/03/2019 - Grand Committee
1: pieces of legislation to ensure that retained direct EU legislation protecting the welfare of animals kept - Speech Link
3. Animal Welfare
12/12/2017 - Westminster Hall
1: move,That this House has considered the Government policy on animal welfare.It is a pleasure - Speech Link
2: the Government take animal welfare seriously and are legislating more than any previous Government have - Speech Link
3: remember, that MPs had voted as if they felt that animals do not have feelings. That story took on a life - Speech Link
4. Live Animal Exports (Prohibition)
25/10/2017 - Commons Chamber
1: to bring in a Bill to prohibit the export of live farmed animals for slaughter or fattening; and for - Speech Link
5. Agriculture Bill
23/07/2020 - Lords Chamber
1: of international law the United Kingdom Government are responsible for ensuring that UK policies are compliant - Speech Link
6. Leaving the EU: Animal Welfare Standards in Farming
24/01/2017 - Westminster Hall
1: animal welfare standards in farming after the UK leaves the EU.It is a pleasure to open this debate - Speech Link
2: rules. As he points out, that often disadvantages UK farmers, who tend to take them far more seriously - Speech Link
7. Agriculture Bill (Fourteenth sitting)
20/11/2018 - Public Bill Committees
1: clause includes a requirement on ministers to introduce specific targets to ensure the bill meets its - Speech Link
2: authority’s smallholdings estate and shall, before the end of the period of eighteen months beginning with the - Speech Link
3: deliberations, but anything is possible with this Government. We have already lost one Committee sitting, - Speech Link
4: management contracts, whether they come in from local government or whether farmers and landowners bring them - Speech Link
5: land will know, the suicide rate among farmers and farm workers is very high. The rate is high because it - Speech Link
6: Powys County Council, is investing in the county farm structure, which is really positive. Is the hon - Speech Link
7: into public ownership to give people the chance to farm. That is what we are about here. This is very important - Speech Link
8: land and make it available for those who wished to farm or do other things appropriate to the land that - Speech Link
8. Foie Gras Imports
13/06/2018 - Commons Chamber
1: respect of European Union exit legislation, Members will be aware that Brexit also gives us a significant - Speech Link
2: poll has found that 77% of people support an import ban. I think that that figure would be much higher if - Speech Link
9. Trade in Animals and Animal Products (Legislative Functions) and Veterinary Surgeons (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
07/10/2019 - Lords Chamber
1: to ensure that retained EU law continues to operate effectively after the UK leaves; they ensure that - Speech Link
10. Agriculture Bill
17/09/2020 - Lords Chamber
1: urban areas in the last 10 years is a failure of government to address poverty issues in our communities - Speech Link
2: manifesto, the Government intend to introduce the UK shared prosperity fund to replace EU structural funds - Speech Link
3: manifesto, the Government intend to introduce the UK shared prosperity fund to replace EU structural funds - Speech Link
asked by: David Amess
14/03/2019
... if he will take steps to ensure that the UK is able to end the live export of animals after the UK leaves the EU. 2. Livestock: Exports
asked by: Laura Smith
02/07/2019
... whether the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ban the export of live animals from the UK for fattening and slaughter. 3. Animal Welfare: Brexit
asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger
18/02/2021
... now that Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU no longer applies in UK law. 4. Animals: Trade
asked by: Matthew Offord
23/07/2018
... whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ban the (a) import and (b) export of live animals after the UK leaves the EU. 5. Wildlife: Trade
asked by: Tracey Crouch
30/10/2020
... (b) advocate for a global inter country trade ban of wildlife and wildlife products at the G20 meeting in November 2020 and (c) ban the import and export of wild animals and wild animal products coming into the UK.
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Long distance travel causes enormous suffering: overcrowding; pain and stress; compromised immunity; inhumane slaughter on arrival; loss of legal safeguards. SOURCE CIWF
During live transport there is a high risk of animal suffering: handling during loading and unloading; strange sights and sounds and animals; heat stress and lack of water and rest. SOURCE RSPCA
Animals are crammed into unsuitable transport and endure gruelling journeys heading for conditions illegal in this country. RSPCA
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Government Response
Government has a Manifesto commitment “as we leave the European Union, we can take early steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter” and will be considering options in this context
The Government is committed to improving the welfare of animals. The Government share the public’s high regard for animal welfare. We are proud to have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.
The Government believes animals should be slaughtered as close as practicable to their point of production. A trade in meat and meat products is preferable to the long distance transport of animals to slaughter. Once we leave the European Union, and in line with our manifesto commitment, we can take early steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter. We will be considering the options further in the context of our departure from the EU.
Until negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the EU and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. During this period the Government will continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation.
We have made clear in Brussels that we support improvements being made to enforcement across the EU of existing rules on the long distance transport of livestock. We have also supported calls for the European Commission to make improvements to the existing EU Regulation on protecting animal welfare in transport.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs