Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will assess the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to prohibit the export of live animals from the UK for research procedures abroad.

Our manifesto made it clear that we would take early steps to control specifically the export of live farm animals for slaughter, once we leave the European Union (EU). We recently launched a call for evidence on the control of live farm animal exports for slaughter but also on how we could improve animal welfare during transport for all purposes which may include animals transported for research purposes after the UK leaves the EU. The call for evidence closed on the 22 May 2018 and we are currently analysing the responses.

The Government has also asked the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) to look at what improvements could be made to the transport regulatory regime for all animals and for all purposes. We hope to receive the recommendations from FAWC later in the year.

We will assess the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals relating to the export of live animals for research procedures abroad in light of responses received to the call for evidence and in light of FAWC’s report.