At this time, tens of thousands of farmed animals are exported each year from the UK. They endure journeys of hundreds or thousands of miles, causing mental exhaustion, physical injuries, hunger, dehydration and extreme stress. On arrival, they are to be slaughtered or kept in inhumane conditions while being fattened.

We responded to a Government consultation on live animal export, and gave our expert opinion on how these unnecessary, long journeys affect farmed animal welfare and why livestock exports should be banned. 

FOUR PAWS provided a new home for the 180 sheep that survived a capsized ship in Romania. Over 14,000 sheep died on the vessel that was headed from Romania to Saudi Arabia.

In May 2021, the Government commits to banning the live export of farmed animals for fattening and slaughter in their Action Plan for Animal Welfare.  

We responded to further consultations on live animal transport enquiries from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee in addition to the devolved Scottish Government. 

By June, The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill is introduced to the House of Commons. Part of this Bill was intended o make provisions which would prohibit the export of farmed animals from Great Britain for fattening and slaughter. 

After stalling the Kept Animals Bill for almost two years, we demonstrate outside Downing Street and tell Rishi Sunak to stop hanging animals out to dry and return the Kept Animals Bill to Parliament. 

Devastatingly, after 500 days in limbo, the Government dropped the Kept Animals Bill, breaking their own promises to protect farmed animals.  Instead, the Government said they would take forward the issues outlined in the Kept Animals Bill as single-issue Bills. 

Thankfully, the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill is introduced to the House of Commons in December, and has its First and Second Readings in the House of Commons. 

In January 2024, the Bill completes its House of Commons Committee Stage, Report Stage and Third Reading on the same day, and moves across to the House of Lords for its First Reading. 

At the beginning of January, 15,000 animals were trapped onboard an Australian live export ship headed to Jordan due to geo-political turmoil in the Middle East. The sheep and cattle were stuck on the vessel for several weeks before being sent back to Australia after it was deemed at-risk of attack. In March, it was decided that these animals, who have already suffered unimaginably onboard, are to be re-exported to Jordan from Australia.  
 This story is just one of many that shows why live exports must be banned once and for all. 

The Bill has its Second Reading in the House of Lords in February, and Committee Stage in March.

The Bill has its Second Reading in the House of Lords in February, Committee Stage in March and Report Stage and Third Reading in May. It then went back to the House of Commons for its Consideration of Amendments.
 

Monday 20 May - The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill has completed all Parliamentary stages, and is now called the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024. This now means that farmed animals from Great Britain will no longer endure the lengthy, horrific journeys for fattening and slaughter as they once did.