MPs call for review of live exports parliamentary debate

MPs yesterday afternoon asked for a full review of live exports following a debate in the House of Commons called by Thanet MP Laura Sandys.

 There was agreement across all parties of those present at the debate yesterday that incidents like the one at Ramsgate on September 12 when more than 40 sheep died or had to be put to sleep on vet advice should never be allowed to happen again.

MPs also agreed that travel for these farm animals should be kept to an absolute minimum and most agreed that enforcement costs for the trade should be borne by those involved in the industry, rather than the tax payer.

There were also calls for ports to be able to make their own decisions on live exports – allowing ports such as Ramsgate to legally say no to the trade if they wanted to.

Shadow Defra Minister Huw Irranca-Davies concluded that the review should be focused on animal welfare and the considerations and economics of the trade and that most people wanted to see an increase in the export of meat, rather than animals and slaughter as close to the place of origin as possible.

There were calls to adopt the European Parliament conclusions from yesterday which called for a maximum eight hour journey time.

Defra Minister David Heath repeated his announcement from earlier this week that Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories inspectors will inspect all animals on loading, rather than at the port.

RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant said:

We welcome the call for a full review into live exports and are pleased that MPs across all parties recognise the suffering being caused and are determined to do something about it. We challenge the Minister’s confidence that supervised loading of animals is acceptable – our inspectors who are at the port for every sailing see that this is no substitute for proper inspections of the animals at the port.

The RSPCA is currently considering taking on a Judicial Review in the High Court into live exports, following Thanet Council’s recent decision to pull out of a Judicial Review.

 

To help fund this and other possible legal activity the RSPCA has launched a fighting fund.

 To donate to the RSPCA Fighting Fund please:     

    To give £3 now text FIGHT to 88010 (Texts cost £3 + 1 standard network rate message)

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