In a move that’s not just about shuffling sheep or cattle across the sea, the United Kingdom is setting a global precedent by tackling the gritty issue of live animal exports head-on.
The Uncomfortable Reality of Live Animal Exports
For more than a century, farm animals have been subjected to long and grueling sea voyages, often under conditions that fail to meet even the most basic welfare standards.
Animal advocates have been campaigning against this practice for over 50 years. These animals are typically cramped in vehicles for extended periods, leading to stress, injury, and sometimes death, including for young male calves unwanted by the dairy industry.
The end of the journey offers little reprieve as the animals often face inhumane slaughter practices far from the stringent regulations of their home country.
Transport-related suffering occasionally makes the news when a vessel carrying thousands of animals becomes stranded at sea. These hellish journeys, known as “live export,” now occur by air and road and can last for days.
Legislative Action: A Timeline of Change
The crusade against live animal exports is steeped in history and fueled by both tenacity and courage. It began in 1890 when British MP Samuel Plimsoll urged Parliament to end the dire conditions of the transatlantic live cattle trade, where overcrowded ships often resulted in animals being fatally injured or cast overboard during storms.
Although this particular trade ceased around World War I, Britain’s live animal export to Europe and the Middle East expanded rapidly starting in the 1960s and hit its peak in the early 1990s, with as many as one million animals exported annually. Most of these were calves, dispatched from the British dairy industry as a “by-product” to be fattened and slaughtered for veal across Europe.
The outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as “mad cow disease,” in 1996 led to a temporary export ban on British cattle, which was only lifted in 2006. Although exports resumed, they gradually declined due to effective lobbying efforts in Westminster and vigorous protests at ports and airports.
As public opposition grew, community protest groups sprang up nationwide in response to the sight of live animals being transported through their towns. This public pressure led many ferry companies to discontinue animal exports, and by 2012, only one British port continued to ship calves and sheep to endure the final days of their lives in misery abroad.
The seeds for change were also sown over fifty years ago by organizations like Compassion in World Farming and the RSPCA, who have been at the forefront of this cause against the cruelty of live animal exports since the 1970s. Their relentless advocacy brought the issue into the public and political spotlight, setting the stage for the landmark legislation known as the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill.
The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill prohibits the export of cattle, goats, pigs, and horses for slaughter and fattening for slaughter.
Introduced to Parliament in December 2023, the bill marks a significant milestone in the UK’s animal welfare agenda. This legislative effort was bolstered by widespread public support, as evidenced by a 2020 consultation where 87% of participants voted against live animal exports.
James West, a senior figure at Compassion in World Farming, highlighted the public’s role: “Decades of campaigning have finally paid off, showing that persistent public pressure can indeed lead to transformative policy changes.”
Since 2020, live exports from Great Britain have been paused, awaiting the establishment of post-Brexit infrastructure necessary for conducting animal health checks once the animals reach the EU. However, without a definitive legislative ban, there was always the looming threat that live exports might resume.
This new legislation finally provides a legal framework to recognize and put an end to the wrongs of live export as a practice, effectively closing a chapter on a long-contested issue within animal welfare circles.
It’s important to note that this ban does not prohibit the export of live animals for other purposes such as breeding or competition. Animals exported for these reasons will still be allowed, provided that their transport complies with legal requirements designed to ensure their welfare during transit. This means that while the ban addresses some of the most severe welfare concerns associated with long and stressful journeys for slaughter, it does not completely end the transport of live animals across borders.
When Will the Bill Become Law?
As the bill swiftly moves through the legislative process, including a notably uncontested passage through the House of Commons, it now faces the scrutiny of the House of Lords. The anticipation among campaigners is palpable, as they hope for the bill to become law before the next general election. This change would not only solidify the UK’s position as a leader in animal welfare but also potentially influence other nations to reconsider their own practices regarding live animal exports.
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