UK looks to ban live animal exports
The British government announced that it could set a ban for live animal exports in the next 12 months. According to Environment Secretary George Eustice, a package of reforms is expected to come to Parliament next summer. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals welcomed the move, saying it would be "a landmark achievement for animal welfare". But the National Farmers Union is calling for improvements to export rules, rather than an outright ban. The government is launching an eight-week consultation on the plan - which includes measures to cut the amount of time animals spend in trucks within the UK, reported BBC.
Current EU trading rules allow for animals to be transported abroad for slaughter. However, only a few thousand of the millions of animals bred for meat in the UK end up being shipped to Europe for slaughter. But the government said now the UK has left the EU - and will stop following its rules after the post-Brexit transition period ends on 31 December - a ban can be introduced.
The measure is targetting only live animals sent abroad for slaughter and fattening.
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