Mims Davies MP was pleased to join the important Animal Welfare debate in the House of Commons today.
Mims Davies MP said:
"I was pleased to be able to join this important debate in the Chamber today. Like countless constituents, protecting animals and enhancing animal welfare means a great deal to me and I appreciate the strength of feeling around this issue.
I was fortunate to be able to help deliver the world leading Ivory Act during my time as the Government Whip at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which enforced a near total ban on the import, export and dealing of items containing elephant ivory.
More information about the Ivory Act can be found here: https://www.mimsdavies.org.uk/news/world-leading-ivory-act-effective-today"
Now that the UK is no longer in the European Union, the Government can end live animal exports, further strengthening animal welfare protections. The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill delivers the Government’s manifesto commitment by banning the live export of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses for slaughter and fattening, stopping unnecessary stress, exhaustion and injury caused by exporting life animals.
This will ensure that animals are slaughtered domestically, in high welfare UK slaughterhouses, preventing the export to unknown and possibly lower welfare slaughterhouse conditions.
The Bill has its Committee Stage and remaining Commons Stages today.
While no animals have been exported for slaughter from Great Britain since the Government announced its intention to bring forward a ban in 2021, this Bill will make this permanent.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:
“We have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world. This Bill makes use of post-Brexit freedoms to strengthen these standards by preventing the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening, which we know causes animals unnecessary stress and injury.”
The legislation follows a 2020 consultation on ending live animal exports in which 87% of respondents agreed that livestock should not be exported for slaughter and fattening. This Bill also follows a manifesto commitment and Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge to ban the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-legislation-set-to-ban-live-animal-exports