London 20th May 2024
Today 20th May, the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) is delighted the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act has received Royal Assent. This means the legislation has been officially signed into law.
This follows the Bill passing its final stages in the House of Lords on 14th May and having passed all of its stages in the House of Commons after receiving widespread MP support across parties.
The key Manifesto commitment to end live exports for fattening and slaughter has been successfully delivered, sending a strong signal overseas that Great Britain takes its role as a world leader in animal welfare seriously.
The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act has banned the export of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain, stopping unnecessary stress, exhaustion, and injury caused by exporting live animals.
Since the founding of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation in 2016, ending live exports for fattening and slaughter has been a core campaign.
Historically Great Britain has exported large numbers of sheep and calves abroad to France and as far afield as Spain. Overcrowding means that some cannot lie down at all, while those who do may be injured or trampled to death. They can be in transit for days, suffering extremes of temperature and often without sufficient food, water or rest.
Animals may end up in countries with far poorer welfare standards than our own, enduring practices that are illegal in the UK such as veal crates. Calves placed into the Dutch white veal pen systems, where they are unable to perform natural behaviour, are barely able to turn around.
Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation would like to thank Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP, Secretary of State for Defra Steve Barclay MP, Lord Douglas- Miller and the Defra team for their continued support for this critical measure which will spare many animals the suffering they endure on long journeys overseas.
Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, commented: “We are delighted the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act has received Royal Assent today, the final stage in its ascent into British law. We are proud that this Government has honoured its key Manifesto commitment to end live exports for fattening and slaughter, putting an end to this cruel trade once and for all.
“We are particularly grateful to the Defra Ministerial team led by Secretary of State Steve Barclay for leading the Bill, as well as to the wider Defra team and No.10 for their hard work on this historic animal welfare measure”
About Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF)
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation was established in 2016 to raise awareness of the lives of billions of animals reared on intensive farms around the world and how this impacts animal welfare, the environment, and people’s health. We want to highlight the action people can take to help advance farm animal welfare.
Animal welfare is an increasing concern amongst the public, who frequently look to the Government to take the lead in both maintaining and improving standards.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation believes it is highly important that the welfare of farm animals is placed at the forefront of the Government’s plan for food and farming along with its focus on productivity, competitiveness, and technology.
