The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act, which has now been enshrined in law, means that farm animals can no longer be exported from Great Britain for slaughter or fattening.
The passing of this legislation marks over five decades of campaigning against the cruel live export trade, which sees animals make gruelling journeys by road and sea, often only to be slaughtered at the end of the voyage.
During such journeys animals suffer from overcrowding, exhaustion, dehydration and stress.
The bill was first raised in 2017 by the Conservative party, promoted as a benefit of Brexit since EU trade rules prevent member states from banning live exports to other countries in the union.
The ban has been celebrated by campaigners such as Compassion in World Farming as a landmark victory.
For decades, farmed animals have endured these senseless and arduous exports to the continent – but no longer! I am phenomenally proud of our supporters whose dedication and persistence have helped secure this hard-fought victory.
In rare positive news about the live animal trade, Australia finally announced its plan to end its live sheep export trade by 2028, due to the serious animal welfare issues involved. Now, the European Union (EU) must follow suit.
As the world’s largest livestock exporter, the EU has a responsibility to lead by example and put an end to the cruel and perilous journeys that animals endure.
Sign the petition to demand the European Union Commission ban live sheep exports!
Animal welfare organizations have long criticized the live export trade for its cruelty. The heartbreaking reality is that animals in the live export trade suffer unimaginable conditions on long sea voyages during trade, leading to avoidable injury, sickness, and death.
Countries like Germany have already begun to acknowledge these horrors by restricting or ending their involvement in live exports, but the EU remains the largest live sheep exporter in the world. Now, it is time for the entire EU to step up and protect these vulnerable creatures.
As we move towards more humane and ethical practices, ending live exports is a crucial step. The proposed ban not only aligns with global moves to protect animal welfare but also addresses public health and ethical concerns.
European leaders must not delay in making this vital change. By banning live sheep exports, the EU can prevent further animal suffering and demonstrate its commitment to compassion and innovation in agriculture.
Sign the petition to join us in calling on the European Union Commission to enact a full ban on live sheep exports.
Regards Mark
Following photos – WAV / SAV contacts.
We expose live sheep being shipped from Serbia to Israel
A survey conducted by CAS International shows that the majority of Spanish, French and Portuguese citizens are against bullfighting, and think the harmful tradition sees too much suffering to bulls.
Spain, France and Portugal are the only European countries that still allow bullfighting, including different patronal festivities with bulls and cows.
77% agreed that bullfighting causes too much suffering to bulls;
65% agreed that children under 18 should be prohibited from attending bullfights;
Only one in every five persons thought that bullfighting is a valuable tradition that should have a place in society;
58% favour a complete ban on bullfighting.
It is clear that more and more people are becoming aware of the violence inflicted on bulls and people do not accept this anymore.
Maite van Gerwen, Director, CAS International
The European Union leaves the protection of animals that are used in cultural, traditional and religious events at the discretion of Member States. However, 74% of respondents agreed that the European Union should act to protect the welfare of animals in cultural traditions, and 67% did not agree with the use of national or EU subsidies to support bullfighting.
There are clear signs that interest in bullfighting is in a decline. In the past 20 years, the number of bullfights in France has decreased by 40%, and by 63% since 2007 in Spain. In Portugal, 166 bullfights were held in 2023, the lowest number ever recorded in the country.
An often-controversial animal rights group has asked Idaho’s attorney general to investigate a wildlife park’s business claims, which the activist group said misled the public into believing the park is a rescue operation.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, filed the consumer protection complaint about Yellowstone Bear World earlier this month, urging the attorney general’s office to investigate alleged insinuations from the park and its staff that Yellowstone Bear World is a sanctuary or nonprofit. The animal rights group also alleged Bear World made misleading claims about keeping bears on its property for life and falsely advertised the size of its property.
Bear World is a drive-through wildlife park in eastern Idaho that is home to numerous animal species, including its namesake black and grizzly bears. The park has faced intense scrutiny over its animal care, bear breeding and cub bottle-feeding practices, particularly after the viral 2020 “Tiger King” documentary drew attention to roadside animal exhibitors.
Despite the pervasive public interest in animal welfare, the framing of animal rights activism in the media has largely contributed to its depoliticization, argues a paper in Polity. “Vegans and “Green-Collared Criminals,'” by Serrin Rutledge-Prior, presents the reaction to a day of animal rights protests in cities and towns around Australia in 2019, and ultimately concludes that the public narratives about the activists delegitimized their endeavors.
Queen Camilla pledges not to buy any more fur in latest Palace move away from animal products – after foie gras banned, holy oil for anointing the King was ‘cruelty-free’ and Coronation roll produced on paper for the first time.
Getty Images
Queen Camilla has pledged not to buy any more fur products in the latest move by Buckingham Palace to not use animal products.
The Palace sent a letter with ‘the Queen’s warmest wishes’ to the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) which vowed Camilla ‘will not procure any new fur garments’.
The animal-rights group toasted the news with a glass of the finest claret and its managing director Ingrid Newkirk said: ‘It’s right and proper for the British monarchy to reflect British values by recognising that fur has no place in our society.’
Today (14th May) The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) is delighted the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill has passed its Third Reading in the House of Lords.
This follows the Bill passing its Report Stage on 8th May in the House of Lords and Committee Stage on 14th March, having already passed all of its stages in the House of Commons.
The Bill has now completed all of its stages and will soon receive Royal Assent to become law and ban live exports for slaughter and fattening.
Throughout its passage in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Bill has attracted support across parties. During the Third Reading in the House of Commons, Minister Mark Spencer said that ending live exports for fattening and slaughter “is close to the hearts of many in this House”. Several Conservative MPs spoke in support of the Bill, including Patron and former Secretary of State for Defra Theresa Villiers MP, Patron Henry Smith MP, former Secretary of State for Defra Dr Therese Coffey MP, and Sir Mike Penning MP.
.The commitment to end live exports for fattening and slaughter honours a popular Conservative Party Manifesto commitment and delivers an important component of Defra’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare. Since the founding of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation in 2016, ending live exports for fattening and slaughter has been a core campaign. Historically Great Britain has exported large numbers of sheep and calves abroad to France and as far afield as Spain. Overcrowding means that some cannot lie down at all, while those who do may be injured or trampled to death. They can be in transit for days, suffering extremes of temperature and often without sufficient food, water or rest.
Animals may end up in countries with far poorer welfare standards than our own, enduring practices which are illegal in the UK such as veal crates. Calves placed into the Dutch white veal pen systems, where they are unable to perform natural behaviour, are barely able to turn around.
Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation would like to thank the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP, Secretary of State for Defra Steve Barclay MP, and the Defra team for their continued support for this critical measure which will spare many animals the suffering they endure on long journeys overseas.
Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, commented: “We are delighted the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill passed its Third Reading in the House of Lords. With the Bill now awaiting Royal Assent, today we have made history in passing legislation to finally put an end to the cruel live export trade for fattening and slaughter.”
“This Bill –which delivers a key Manifesto commitment, as well as an important component of Defra’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare– has enjoyed the strong support of MPs and Peers across the political spectrum.”
“We are grateful to Minister Lord Douglas-Miller for leading the Bill in the Lords, and Secretary of State Steve Barclay for leading the Bill in the Commons, as well as to the wider Defra team for their hard work on this important subject.”
About the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation was established in 2016 to raise awareness on the lives of billions of animals reared on intensive farms around the world and how this impact upon animal welfare, the environment and public health. We want to highlight the action people can take to help advance farm animal welfare.
Animal welfare is an increasing concern amongst the public, who frequently look to Government to take the lead in both maintaining and improving standards.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation believes it is highly important that the welfare of farm animals is placed at the forefront of the Governments plan for food and farming along with its focus on productivity, competitiveness, and technology.
After Tory dither and delay, parliament FINALLY passes Animal Welfare Bill to protect farmed animals
On Tuesday 14 May, the UK House of Lords passed a landmark new bill on animal welfare. Of course, it’s a major win for animal rights. However, it likely could have happened a lot sooner if not for Tory wrangling on previous bills.
Animal Welfare Bill passes through parliament
The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill prohibits the export of cattle, goats, pigs, and horses for slaughter, and fattening for slaughter.
It aims to improve animal welfare in farming by ending long, arduous journeys to other countries. These journeys regularly put animals through overcrowding, exhaustion, dehydration and stress.
However, on 14 May (2024), the House of Lords passed the new bill that will bring this appalling practice to a close. It will now head for royal assent before becoming law.
Activists have been calling for the ban for decades. Emma Slawinski, director of policy, prevention and campaigns at the RSPCA animal charity, described it as “an extraordinary achievement” that activists had campaigned on for 50 years. She said that:
Back in the 90s we had more than a million animals going out from the UK. It’s an abhorrent trade. The suffering is intense and it goes on for a long time.
Some of those journeys were measured in days, not in hours, and they’re never going to happen again.
Activists launched particularly fierce and dedicated campaigning during this time. Notable among this was a coordinated wave of protests and direct action against the practice at the port of Brightlingsea in Essex in 1995. UK media dubbed the event “The Battle of Brightlingsea”.
In tandem with this, on February 1, 1995, Jill Phipps (photo above) was one of a few dozen animal rights activists who broke through a police line at Coventry Airport in central England. She was crushed to death under a lorry as she protested against the export of live calves for veal in 1995.
World Animals Voice 
