Journalist and part-time shepherd Tim Metcalfe urges a ban on animal transport

Campaigners against cruelty to farm animals are continuing their battle to end live exports from UK ports. It is distressing to see cattle and sheep packed into trucks and ferried off to slaughter in Europe – a completely unnecessary procedure. There is no reason why these animals could not be slaughtered humanely in the UK and sent abroad as meat.

Current EU legislation prevents the UK from banning live exports outright. But, if it had the political will, the UK Government could change the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act (1847) which currently says that all public ports must allow the free trade of ‘goods’ including farm animals. This law is more than 160 years old and campaigning organisations like Compassion in World Farming want it updated so that animals are no longer considered simply as ‘goods’ and ports can refuse the live exports trade on ethical grounds.

This amendment could end live exports – and would be perfectly legal under EU law. Many MEPs are in favour of improving conditions for animals in transport and have voted to impose an overall limit on journey times. But the recent transport review of animal transport regulations by the EU Commission did not propose any new legislation, despite recognising that current transport rules are “not in line with current scientific opinion”, and despite the current regulation recognising that “long journeys are likely to have more detrimental effects on the welfare of animals than short ones.”

Compassion in World Farming would like to see a higher age limit at which animals can be transported over long distances and for no animal to be transported for longer than eight hours to slaughter or for further fattening. Currently, British calves and sheep are being exported through the ports of Dover and Ramsgate. But this unnecessary trade is a worldwide phenomenon. In North and South America, Australia and Europe, animals often have to endure journeys across vast distances in trucks before long voyages before reaching their final destination.

An example of the risks inherent in this ugly trade came in the form of 14 carcasses of cows found washed up on beaches in Denmark and Sweden. Investigators believe that the cows had died (or had been shot) and thrown overboard while being transported live from the USA to Russia. Dil Peeling, director of campaigns at Compassion, said: “We may never know who was responsible for this act – something that underlines the impossibility of regulating this trade and the urgent need to end it.”

To find out more about the campaign against live exports visit the Compassion in World Farming website www.ciwf.org.uk