Sheep to Shore

UK PASSES BILL TO BAN LIVE ANIMAL EXPORTS

On 14th May 2024, a UK bill banning the export of livestock for slaughter cleared parliament, with campaigners hailing it as a landmark moment for animal welfare. The spread of many of the diseases which affect us, our animals and devastate our wildlife (such as foot and mouth disease and bird flu) can be attributed to the live transportation of farmed animals. The prolonged physical and mental stress they suffer on these journeys mean they're more likely to become injured or sick, which can contribute to the spread of zoonoses.

But thankfully the cruel, inhumane practice of the often excessively long, cramped, stressful, frightening, harmful conditions endured during the export of sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, horses and poultry by road, rail, sea and air from the UK - only to be slaughtered when they arrive - are due to end!!

The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill which has been passed by the House of Lords (meaning it now just needs royal assent before becoming law), prohibits the export of cattle, goats, pigs and horses for slaughter, and also fattening for slaughter and will end the unnecessary suffering, thirst, hunger and injury suffered by so many along the way.

Campaigners from all walks of life and many charities including Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), have been calling for a change in the law in the UK since the mid-1990s when the first huge protests against the export of livestock took place. The ban was first proposed in 2017. Since then the topic has featured a lot in the news and over the past year or so there have been horrific images of cattle experiencing further unexpected suffering from fires, crashes, delays, mass strandings at sea in unbearable temperatures and the sinking of livestock ships.

As supporters of CIWF, the RSPCA and Kent Action Against Live Exports, projected a grateful message onto the cliffs of Dover (the backdrop to so many live export shipments) Philip Lymbery, CEO of CIWF said: "This is a huge day to celebrate and one that has been long-awaited. For decades, farmed animals have endured these senseless and arduous exports to the continent - but no longer! I am phenomenally proud of our supporters whose dedication and persistence have helped secure this hard-fought victory. It has been a very difficult journey to get this policy over the line with many stumbling blocks along the way. It's a relief to see this horrific practice now end once and for all..."

Next month, on 14th June 2024, when campaigners from around the world will unite to gain further momentum around the annual 'Ban Live Exports: International Awareness Day' they'll have some further good news to celebrate. Over the past year there's also been a ban on live exports by sea from New Zealand, a commitment by the Australian Government to end live sheep exports by sea and a court ruling to stop cattle exports from Brazilian ports. But there's still much work to do and calls for the EU to present its own measures.

(Pic credits: top right of Joanna Lumley and above, CIWF)