Document type: article published by Eurogroup for Animals
Authors: Eurogroup for Animals
Excerpt in French (translation): Brittany Ferries ends the transport of live animals following pressure from NGOs
This announcement follows more than a year of sustained international campaigning led by Compassion in World Farming, Ethical Farming Ireland, WELFARM, FOUR PAWS, L214, Eyes on Animals, Eurogroup for Animals, Southampton Animal Action, and Dorset Animal Action.
Brittany Ferries found itself at the center of a controversy after resuming, in March 2025, the transport of live farm animals from Ireland to France, thereby reversing a policy that had been in place for 30 years. During these journeys, calves are confined inside trucks for an 18-hour ferry crossing, exposed to prolonged hunger, distress, and lifelong health consequences. Upon arrival, some were transported to the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland, on journeys lasting up to 50 hours. The transport of unweaned calves constitutes a direct violation of the European Union’s animal transport regulation, as noted in an audit by the European Commission. Since the company’s decision to resume these transports, animal protection organizations have coordinated campaigns, collected more than 100,000 signatures from citizens, and organized regular protests in Ireland, France, and the United Kingdom. The coalition of NGOs also met with the company on several occasions to demand an end to this practice, until the company finally heeded the call. In a poll published in January, 82% of EU citizens expressed concern about the transport of very young, unweaned animals, while only 22% believed that current protective measures were sufficient.
This news marks a historic victory for animals, demonstrating the power of mobilization by NGOs and citizens, while sending a clear message to European policymakers who are currently negotiating the revision of the 20-year-old European legislation on animal transport.
Irish Ferries is now the only operator continuing this trade between Ireland and France, and animal welfare organizations are calling on the company to follow suit as a matter of urgency.
Animal welfare organizations are urging the EU to ban the long-distance transport of unweaned animals, to establish strict limits on transport duration, and to replace the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening with a trade in meat and carcasses.
More than 60,000 citizens have already signed an open letter calling on policymakers to ensure that revised European legislation adequately protects animals during transport.
Excerpt in English (original): The announcement follows more than a year of sustained international campaigning by Compassion in World Farming, Ethical Farming Ireland, WELFARM, FOUR PAWS, L214, Eyes on Animals, Eurogroup for Animals, Southampton Animal Action and Dorset Animal Action.
Brittany Ferries was at the centre of controversy after in March of 2025, it resumed the transportation of live farmed animals from Ireland to France, reversing a policy of 30 years. On these journeys, calves are kept inside trucks for an 18-hour ferry crossing, exposed to prolonged hunger, distress and lifetime health consequences. Following the crossing, some were transported onwards to Netherlands, Spain and Poland, with journeys lasting up to 50 hours.
The transport of unweaned calves is in direct breach of the EU Transport Regulation, noted by a European Commission audit. Since its decision to resume transport, animal protection organisations coordinated campaigns, collected over 100,000 signatures from citizens and held regular demonstrations in Ireland, France and the UK. The NGO coalition also met with the company several times asking for an end to the practice, until the company finally listened.
In a survey released in January, 82% of EU citizens expressed concern about the transport of very young and unweaned animals, with only 22% convinced that current protections were adequate.
This news is a landmark victory for animals that shows the power of mobilising NGOs and citizens, while it sends a clear message to EU policy-makers who are negotiating the revision of the EU’s 20-year-old animal transport legislation.
Irish Ferries is now the only operator continuing the trade from Ireland to France, and animal protection organisations call on the company to urgently follow suit.
Animal protection organisations urge the EU to prohibit the transport of unweaned animals over long distances, introduce strict journey-time limits and replace the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening with a trade in meat and carcasses.
Over 60,000 citizens have already signed an open letter asking policy-makers to ensure that a revised EU legislation adequately protects animals during transport.
