How much is enough? New evidence shows the suffering of animals exported from Spain to Middle East for slaughter

The investigation carried out by Eurogroup for Animals’ members Animals International and Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) in collaboration with Igualdad Animal and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), reveals the suffering of Spanish animals exported to the Middle East. This is the umpteenth evidence showing the cruelty linked with this trade: Eurogroup for Animals urges the EU to bring an end to the needless suffering and to take a step toward meat/ carcasses only trade.

This summer more than 346,800 cattle and sheep have been exported from Spain to the Middle East and North Africa – just to be slaughtered. Libya, despite the ongoing conflict, remains one of the main importers of live animals from Spain, together with Lebanon, Algeria, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Morocco being the main destinations. 

As shown by countless footage and images collected in the past 10 years by NGOs, EU animals exported to non-EU countries travel for many hours, even days, in critical conditions, and face brutal slaughter practices at arrival which are not even in line with the standards set by World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to guarantee a minimum level of animal welfare at the time of slaughter.

The evidence collected in Spain by Animals International and AWF this summer, in collaboration with Igualdad Animal and CIWF, shows livestock consignments that should have never been approved because of the high temperatures exceeding the maximum range set by the Council Regulation 1/2005 (EU Transport Regulation) for the authorisation of such journeys.

Indeed, with more than 34 degrees at the port of Cartagena, the investigators recorded signs of heat stress in the animals that remained confined into the trucks for many hours before being loaded into the vessels. Scared and exhausted, the footage released today shows animals at the ports of Cartagena and Tarragona being moved with violent methods explicitly forbidden by the EU Transport Regulation (i.e  by lifting or dragging the animals by their heads, ears, legs or horns or manipulating them in a way that causes them unnecessary pain or suffering).

Some of these animals were also clearly unfit to travel as severely injured and for them the continuation of the journey should have never been allowed. In some cases, in a desperate attempt to escape, some animals fell into the sea without being noticed by the port operators and the authority appointed to ensure the welfare of the animals transported.

Eurogroup for Animals’ members documented for the first time ever the presence of Spanish animals in a Lebanese slaughterhouses, where untrained operators were filmed while putting their hands in the eyes of the animals to move them. Given the high volume of farmed animals exported to non-EU countries by Spain (Spain is the first and the second EU exporter of, respectively, cattle and sheep), it is likely that the same fate befell many other sentient beings departing from the Spanish ports. In 2019 the exports of live animals increased by 28% compared to 2018, that year 901,392 animals (cattle and sheep) were sent by sea. The first EU exporter for sheep is Romania.

Spain also imports calves from all over the EU to fatten them: these animals are very often unweaned and once fattened are slaughtered either in Spain or in Third Countries with practices that are not allowed by the Council Regulation 1099/2009 (EU Slaughter Regulation).

Read more at source

El Mundo

WAV Comment (Mark): 

Despite the overwhelming wishes of the Australian people to stop live exports; the government seems to ignore them and continue to bow and make excuses for support of the trade.  If I lived in Freemantle and heard this news I don’t think I would be very impressed with this situation.

Sems that the Health Minster and the WA Premier have now got a bit of a problem here.

The authorities want to ‘remove the ship so that it can be cleaned’ !

If Australia did not have the live animal export trade then there would be no (live export ship) crew infections; no risk to the people of Freemantle (Health Minister Roger Cook said authorities were working to get as many people as possible off the ship and into hotel quarantine) – so sick crew now being taken ashore into a hotel reduces the risk, does it ?

We say Karma to the government – sadly, people may die as a result of all this; livestock ship crew being taken ashore ? – increasing the chances of infection to other land based folk no doubt.  If the government has to keep on dreaming up excuses for the vile trade to continue; them let them dream up excuses for this new situation.

If the citizens of Australia don’t like it – then get them out !

You know how ‘Mr Coal’ failed you in the recent fires !

Further to our very recent post re Covid on a livestock ship docked in Freemantle:

It now seems to be getting much larger within a day – 24 crew now seem to have tested positive.

Source:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-19/another-24-cases-of-coronavirus-on-al-messilah-at-fremantle-port/12782686

Coronavirus outbreak on Al Messilah livestock carrier at Fremantle Port sees 24 more crew members test positive

Another 24 crew members on board a livestock carrier docked at Fremantle Port in Western Australia have tested positive for coronavirus, as a move to phase 5 of eased COVID-19 restrictions has again been delayed in the state.

Key points:

• The 24 infected crew members remain on the Al Messilah in Fremantle
• Authorities want to remove people from the ship so it can be cleaned
• WA’s phase 5 restrictions have been delayed but there is relief for venues

One crew member from the Al Messilah ship had already been diagnosed and brought onshore to quarantine in a hotel.

The other 51 crew from a number of countries remain on the ship, which was scheduled to be loading stock but has now been delayed.

Health Minister Roger Cook said authorities were working to get as many people as possible off the ship and into hotel quarantine to allow for deep cleaning of the vessel.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said it was possible there could be “further positive results in coming days”.

“It is becoming clear that ships arriving with COVID-19 on board is one of the weakest links and the biggest risk to our way of life in Western Australia,” he said.

Mr McGowan demanded the Commonwealth “step up” and work with other jurisdictions on the issue, saying WA received around 30 vessels to its ports every day.

“We need a coordinated, international approach to this and we need our Federal Government to take international action,” he said.

Move to phase 5 restrictions delayed

WA’s tentative date to move to phase 5 of eased COVID-19 restrictions had been pencilled in to begin this weekend.

It would have seen the 2-square-metre-per-person rule abolished along with the 50 per cent capacity limit at major venues.

Mr McGowan said WA would extend phase 4 restrictions for now, but the 2-square-metre rule would be modified.

Regards Mark