The RSPCA has welcomed the inclusion of a reside export ban within the King's Speech bringing the tip of gruelling and pointless journeys for animals a step nearer.

The King's Speech right this moment (7 November) set out the UK Government's agenda for the approaching political yr and the animal welfare charity was thrilled that the reside export ban - through an Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill - was amongst the necessary points raised within the supplementary notes.

The RSPCA has campaigned to outlaw reside exports for greater than 50 years. Today, round 1.6 million cattle – cattle, sheep, pigs and horses – are transported large distances throughout Europe yearly, some for slaughter, others for additional fattening, on gruelling journeys that may final tens of hours, exhausting the animals and inflicting struggling and even loss of life.

The Kept Animals Bill - beforehand the cornerstone of the UK Government's animal welfare agenda - would have put an finish to reside exports in Britain and introduced this struggling to an finish. However, the Bill was dismantled by Ministers together with a litany of damaged guarantees for animal welfare because the UK Government didn't ship on 14 of their pledges.

Today the King's Speech confirmed that plans to finish the reside export of animals is again on the agenda. Additionally, plans have been introduced to offer tenants the 'proper to request pets' as a part of the Renters Reform Bill - ending blanket bans on pet possession within the non-public rented sector - and a pledge to scale back the attraction and availability of vapes which might trigger issues for wildlife.

David Bowles, head of public affairs on the RSPCA, mentioned: "This is a historic day for animal welfare. After half a century of campaigning to see an finish of reside exports, we're extremely happy that the UK Government has prioritised this - albeit as the one animal welfare difficulty taken ahead of their programme.  

"This King's Speech, the final one earlier than the election, is an acid take a look at of the UK Government's true dedication to animal welfare and we now urge them to make good on this promise, lastly get this laws over the road, and herald a ban on this merciless and barbaric apply."

Over the final half a century, the RSPCA has seen tens of millions of signatures on petitions, 1000's attending protest marches, and weekly demonstrations from members of the general public at UK ports. And over half of the general public (54%) assist a ban with solely 10% opposing it.

David added: "Despite the power of public feeling, the UK Government has been dragging its ft on bringing in a ban which is why having the significance of this difficulty recognised within the King's Speech is such a big second."

The pointless threat of struggling for animals who're transported in lengthy, crowded journeys overseas consists of psychological exhaustion, bodily harm, starvation, dehydration and stress from the extremes of warmth or chilly, all whereas access to meals and water is not only a problem however typically inconceivable. They usually additionally contain overstocking, automobile or ship malfunctions and journeys involving animals too sick or injured to be exported within the first place. 

Journeys can take as much as 96 hours, just for the animals to reach to be slaughtered or probably saved in circumstances which may very well be unlawful within the UK. Under EU guidelines, as soon as an animal leaves the UK, there isn't any management over their closing vacation spot or slaughter technique. There aren't any limits on transport of animals - certainly an animal can journey all all over the world supplied relaxation stops are utilized.

The final export to depart the UK was on 31 December 2020, however with no legislation in place this might begin once more at any time which is why a ban is so essential.

The RSPCA is now urging the general public to proceed to place stress on the UK Government and after 50 lengthy years to lastly put an finish to the reside export of cattle for slaughter and additional rearing.

See the listing of dropped pledges for animals

The animal welfare charity is delighted on the inclusion of the problem within the King's Speech, this was simply one in every of 14 dropped pledges for animals lately recognized by the RSPCA - with not one of the others rectified throughout this King's Speech. 

• Caged cattle - The UK Government had promised to seek the advice of on banning cattle being saved in cages in England. Currently, round 10 million hens reside in cages within the UK which supplies them on common much less usable house than an A4 piece of paper. Around 60% of UK sows (~205,680 sows) are placed in farrowing crates earlier than they offer beginning and stay for all the length of nursing their piglets. A sow will give beginning to 2- 3 litters a yr, that means she is going to spend on common 10-15 weeks a yr in a farrowing crate. These metallic crates are so small that the sows cannot even flip round.
• Livestock worrying - this was additionally a part of the dismantled Kept Animals Bill, and would have given police further powers to supply safety to livestock towards canine management and chunk incidents which can lead to critical accidents and even loss of life.
• Puppy smuggling - the Bill was additionally set to extend the age of imported puppies to 6 months, afford better safety across the import of pregnant dogs and restrict the variety of dogs an individual or automobile can convey into the UK, in an effort to crackdown on the unlawful and merciless puppy commerce. Mums and puppies are nonetheless pressured to journey lengthy distances and offered to unsuspecting members of the general public who usually should cope with poorly puppies and dogs with behavioural points.
• Imports of fur from overseas - fur farming has been banned within the UK for greater than 20 years however sadly fur can nonetheless be imported from international locations the place animals raised for his or her fur usually reside in cramped, barren cages – with little skill to exhibit pure behaviours - and a few are killed in horrific and inhumane methods. An RSPCA survey confirmed that 95% of the general public would by no means put on actual fur, however many objects on the market within the UK are both incorrectly labelled or not labelled in any respect and with no ban on imports that is set to proceed.
• Sale and import of foie gras - this product can solely be made by way of a course of that may be very merciless to geese and geese. Production of foie gras has by no means occurred within the UK and was primarily banned as way back as 1968, however regardless of pledging to ban imports of foie gras, this has now been allowed to proceed.
• Trade negotiations with excessive welfare requirements - the UK Government vowed to safeguard excessive animal welfare requirements in free commerce agreements following Brexit. However, it has now signed three Free Trade Agreements (Australia, New Zealand, Trans Pacific) none of which included measures to make sure imports met the UK's business and animal welfare requirements.
• Food labelling session - plans for a session into necessary welfare labelling on animal merchandise was lately deserted. Currently, customers can not make an knowledgeable alternative as a result of there isn't any clear labelling on the merchandise they purchase to point out how the animal has been reared and cared for. This comes regardless of 4 out of 5 folks* pondering having some data about the way in which an animal has been cared for is necessary when making a purchase order.
• Pet theft - following a suggestion from the Pet Theft Task Force, the UK Government added pet abduction to the Kept Animals Bill which might have made pet theft a selected offence. Pet theft is devastating for house owners who understandably see their pet as one of many household however at present the legislation treats the theft of a pet the identical because the theft of a cell phone.
• Banning the usage of shock collars - following a session exhibiting overwhelming assist for a ban on shock collars in England the Government launched laws in April to realize this.  Whilst it was rapidly accepted by the House of Lords it has stalled and has but to be launched to the Commons. Although we're but to see an precise backtrack we're involved that this too may very well be deserted, regardless of Wales having a ban since 2010. 
• Call for proof on snares - the UK Government dedicated to launch a name for proof on the usage of snares in England however this was sadly dropped. The RSPCA is against the manufacture, sale and use of all snares and any traps which trigger struggling to an animal - and these units have been lately banned by the Welsh Government. Foxes are sometimes the goal of such traps, but in addition different animals comparable to badgers and home cats may be potential victims. 
• Review of slaughter laws - the Government dedicated to reviewing the slaughter laws however no progress has occurred on this regardless of the Government agreeing that lobsters and crabs are sentient animals and have to have safety when being killed and that fish want particular rules on slaughter.
• Importation of dogs with cropped ears - regardless of being unlawful, greater than 1,100 dogs are reported to have undergone this merciless and pointless process within the final three years. Many additionally benefit from the loophole as it's not unlawful to import dogs with cropped ears regardless of these dogs struggling mutilations, usually by untrained people with out ache aid. The legislation would even have seen a ban on importing declawed cats - additionally unlawful to hold out within the UK.
• Consultation on sport birds - the Government promised a session on updating the requirements on preserving sport birds however no progress has occurred in any respect.

In the absence of UK Government motion, the charity now hopes Members of Parliament may provide a 'rescue bundle' for animals by proposing one of many different 13 pledges as backbench laws due for a poll later this month.

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