Hemel Hempstead MP, Sir Mike Penning, has tabled a motion in Parliament calling on the Government to take advantage of Brexit and ban the export of live lambs and sheep for slaughter.

Sir Mike said:

“I have long been opposed to the export of live animals for slaughter. It is totally unnecessary. I am concerned that a significant number of these animals die and suffer terrible cruelty on route to countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece.

“This could be an animal welfare quick win for us, and I urge the Government to implement it from day one – 1 January 2021.

“Animals should be slaughtered near to home and then the meat exported “on the hook, not the hoof”.”

The Motion reads:

That this House believes that the United Kingdom is about to take back controls of export trade and deplores the fact that thousands of live lambs and sheep have been exported for slaughter; is concerned that a significant number of these animals die and suffer unnecessarily cruelty on route to countries like Spain, Italy and Greece; and calls on the UK Government to ban the live export trade in live animals for slaughter on the 1 January 2021.

https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/57248/export-trade-in-live-animals-for-slaughter