Union tells Defra not to impose live export ban

The importance of live animal transport to Scotland’s livestock industry has been stressed by Scotland’s farmers’ union in its response to a Defra call for evidence.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has said it is “unacceptable and completely unnecessary” for live animals to be exported and transported over long distances for slaughter or further fattening, and is consulting on a possible ban.

However NFU Scotland (NFUS) has responded by stating the export market has a vital role in providing options for producers and supporting a healthy market within the UK as long as all journeys meet the current welfare standards established across the EU.

Live exports to slaughter outside the UK currently constitute only a very small part of the Scottish trade, but NFUS believes the option of exports should be retained, particularly given the uncertainties for trading post-Brexit.

NFUS president Andrew McCornick said: “It is an extremely emotive subject and one that generates a considerable amount of misinformation and negativity. Given how important animal transport is to Scotland, decisions must be based on sound evidence and not rhetoric.

“The imposition of new rules and standards, paired with the possibility post-Brexit of goods produced to lower welfare standards being imported here, could damage the resilience of the Scottish industry and lessen rather than improve production standards.

Mr McCornick added that any decision to ban live exports to the continent by ferry also had the potential to be the thin end of the wedge.

“Scotland’s island livestock production prides itself on high welfare and any implication that journeys by ferry are ‘bad welfare’ could be damaging to their reputation,” he said.

“As seen by the recent closure on Orkney, the viability of slaughterhouses on Scottish islands is challenging, making transport off islands for slaughter a necessity. Welfare during these journeys is taken very seriously.

“Regrettably, our recent offer to show the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove, some of the bespoke high welfare systems developed to ship animals off the islands was declined but the invitation remains open.” controls on

NFUS president Andrew McCornick wants live exports to remain an option.