Document type: article published on The Pig Site
Author : Global Ag Media
Preview: Plans to ban the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening have been unveiled by the Environment Secretary on 3 December, in the start of a renewed push by government to strengthen the UK's position as a world leader on animal welfare.
These proposals form part of an eight-week consultation, launched in England and Wales, seeking views on how to better protect animal welfare during transport.
Live animals commonly have to endure excessively long journeys during exports, causing distress and injury. Previously, EU rules prevented any changes to these journeys, but leaving the EU has enabled the UK Government to pursue these plans which would prevent unnecessary suffering of animals during transport and see us become the first country in Europe to end this practice.
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
- strict rules on transporting animals in extreme temperatures
- tighter rules for transporting live animals by sea.
Articles published on the same subject :
- 3 December 2020 BBC website: Live animal exports to be banned in England and Wales
- 4 December 2020 Slate.fr website: Le Royaume-Uni, premier pays européen à interdire l’exportation d’animaux vivants
- 7 December 2020 France agricole website: Londres veut interdire l’exportation de bétail vivant
