A dedication to banning reside exports of animals within the King’s Speech has been hailed by animal marketing campaign teams as a ‘historic’ achievement.
The reside export ban problem was amongst these raised within the King’s Speech on Tuesday, which set out the federal government’s agenda for the approaching political yr.
Ministers dedicated to transferring ahead with the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill, successfully ending the reside exports of animals from Britain for slaughter or fattening.
The announcement builds on a earlier pledge from former Defra Secretary George Eustice in December 2020.
The Kept Animals Bill was meant to be the cornerstone of the federal government’s post-Brexit animal welfare agenda however ended up being shelved in May this yr.
The RSPCA, which has been campaigning to outlaw reside exports for greater than 50 years, hailed the inclusion of stronger animal welfare laws within the authorities’s proposals as “a historic day”.
David Bowles, head of public affairs on the RSPCA, mentioned: “After half a century of campaigning to see an finish of reside exports, we’re extremely happy that the UK authorities has prioritised this – albeit as the one animal welfare problem taken ahead of their programme.
“This King’s Speech, the last one before the election, is an acid test of the UK government’s true commitment to animal welfare and we now urge them to make good on this promise, finally get this legislation over the line, and bring in a ban on this cruel and barbaric practice.”
The final reside export to depart the UK was on 31 December 2020. However, campaigners argue that with no legislation in place the observe may begin once more at any time.
Bowles added the “UK government has been dragging its feet on bringing in a ban, which is why having the importance of this issue recognised in the King’s Speech is such a significant moment”.
The RSPCA claimed that transporting reside cattle in “long, crowded journeys” overseas was a observe typically accomplished below poor circumstances, which have been detrimental to the animals’ welfare and posed a problem to businesses coping with overstocking or sick or injured animals.
Several nations, together with Australia, New Zealand and Brazil, have just lately rolled out comparable guidelines round exports of livestock.
Compassion in World Farming additionally mentioned this resolution from the British authorities was “long overdue”.
