Export for Slaughter from Great Britain Banned

Following decades of campaigning by animal protection organizations, a ban has been enacted on export of livestock for slaughter from Great Britain to destinations outside Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. The law, called the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act, received royal assent in May. It had been introduced in Parliament after the government invited public input on the issue. An overwhelming 87 percent of those who submitted comments agreed that livestock should not be exported for fattening and slaughter. Before the United Kingdom left the European Union, millions of animals were exported annually for such purposes, enduring grueling overseas journeys along the way. Great Britian becomes the second country to ban live export for slaughter, following New Zealand’s landmark 2023 legislation to that effect.

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Program Terms: Farmed Animals

AWI Quarterly Terms: Government/Legal, Quick Read

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