Thank you for contacting me about live animal exports. Live animals commonly endure excessively long journeys during exports, causing distress and injury. Previously, EU rules prevented any changes to these journeys, but leaving the EU has enabled the Government to pursue plans which would prevent unnecessary suffering of animals during transport and see the UK become the first country in Europe to end this practice. Following a public consultation on the manifesto commitment to end excessively long journeys for animals for slaughter and fattening, I am pleased that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill has now been introduced to Parliament. This Bill will allow the UK to become the first European country to end this practice.
Although animal welfare is a devolved matter, I understand that the Scottish Government has committed to work with the UK Government to end the unnecessary long distance transport of animals for fattening or slaughter outside of the UK.
I welcome that the Welsh Government has agreed to let the UK Government legislate on its behalf on the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. Following a public consultation on the UK Government’s manifesto commitment to end excessively long journeys for animals for slaughter and fattening, I am pleased that this Bill has now been introduced to Parliament and will allow the UK to become the first European country to end this practice.
I understand that under the Bill, export journeys for slaughter and fattening that use England or Wales as a land bridge would not be permitted. I am assured that the legislation will not impact on domestic slaughter and fattening movements, and that the export of poultry, as well as animals being exported for breeding purposes, will continue to take place providing animal welfare is suitably protected.
Following a public consultation on the manifesto commitment to end excessively long journeys for animals for slaughter and fattening, I am pleased that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill has now been introduced to Parliament.
