Brexit is ‘best chance to end cruel export of live animals’
EXCLUSIVE
BREXIT must be used to ban live animal exports which cause “unnecessary suffering”, a charity has demanded.
The RSPCA is stepping up pressure on the Government to take advantage of being free from European Union rules to stop the practice.
The call has been backed by Conservative MPs and comes as the latest shipment left Ramsgate, Kent, yesterday.
David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said: “Leaving the EU is the best chance we have had so far to end the live export trade which causes so much unnecessary suffering to animals.”
In their manifesto, the Conservatives pledged to put a stop to excessively long journeys for farm animals after Brexit.
Former environment secretary Theresa Villiers said the Government must deliver on the promise when the transition period comes to a close at the end of the year.
She said: “For years the EU stopped us banning live exports. Now we’re heading for the end of the transition period, we have the opportunity to take action.
“There are some serious legal complexities to be tackled, but there is a clear moral case to end live exports.
“We need to live up to our manifesto commitment on this and restrict excessive long distance transport of live animals so overseas exports become a thing of the past.”
Tory MP Sir David Amess added: “As part of the negotiations, we should immediately end the live export of animals and redouble our efforts to ensure that our high standards of animal welfare are shared and adopted by the rest of the EU.”
Every year tens of thousands of animals are exported from the