New research shows that 66 per cent of the British public are ‘appalled’ that live farm animals are transported long distances to the continent for slaughter. And, around seven out of ten (69 per cent) people believe animals should be slaughtered in the country where they have been reared and then their meat transported to the country where it will be sold.
On July 3, the RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming and Kent Action Against Live Exports marched through London to Westminster to call for immediate action to end the cruel and unnecessary trade in live farm animals.
“Despite over 20 years of tireless campaigning against this trade, tens of thousands of farm animals are still being exported to the continent for further fattening and slaughter each year and these long journeys have shown to cause unnecessary suffering to animals such as calves and sheep. Its time this cruel trade ended once and for all and Britain moved to an alternative a trade in meat,” said Eloise Shavelar, RSPCA farm animal campaign manager.
Research shows that 69 per cent of British people think farm animals should not be travelling over eight hours, yet journeys can take far longer, with one recorded journey of sheep travelling between the south of England and Stuttgart taking over 23 hours.
“Animals are confined in crowded lorries and their exhausting journeys can be hundreds, even thousands of miles - as far as Eastern Europe. That is why we are calling on the government to stand up for sheep and end this unnecessary trade,” said Pru Elliot, Compassion in World Farming campaign officer.
Unfortunately, due to EU trade rules, the Government is unable to ban live exports directly. Defra has maintained that it would prefer to see a trade in meat - yet Ministers have taken no steps to work with the industry toward this and there are concerns that regulations in place to protect animals during transport are not being enforced.
Together the organisations are calling on George Eustice MP, Minister responsible for animal welfare to:
● work with the industry to move to an alternative trade in meat.
● implement 100 per cent checks at the port.
● amend the 1847 Ports Act so ports can choose to reject the trade.
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