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Conservative MEPs Lead Campaign to Stop Live
Export of Horses
Conservative MEPs voting in the European Parliament
in Strasbourg today have ensured that the UK will be
able to maintain its ban on the live export of horses
and ponies. For 70 years, the UK has prevented the live
export of horses and ponies for slaughter to stop them
from ending up on European dinner tables, but the European
Commission has been negotiating with the British Government
on animal transport proposals which could have ended
the ban on the trade. Scottish Conservative MEP John
Purvis has applauded the fight to stop this in the European
Parliament.
Amendments to the proposals submitted by Conservative
MEPs have been passed in the Parliament today, ensuring
that the proposals include an option that allows Member
States to opt-out of the export of live horses and ponies
for slaughter. Speaking from Strasbourg after the vote
this afternoon, Scottish Conservative MEP John Purvis
said:
“It is clear from the large number of letters
on this subjects I’ve received that Scotland is
a country of animal lovers, who take very seriously
the conditions under which animals are raised and transported.
Very few people support this live trade which forces
horses to suffer many hundred of miles of travel before
slaughter. There is substantial evidence that low-value
horses, ponies and donkeys which are transported for
slaughter experience very considerable welfare problems
during transport. That’s why it’s important
that the Government maintains this ban.
“We must not see the resumption of the export
of horses in squalid and appalling conditions for slaughter
abroad. With this vote, we have ensured the European
Parliament’s support for an opt-out to stop this
trade. It is now up to the British Government to implement
this opt-out."
Notes to Editors
1. The European Commission proposal would end the so-called
'Minimum Values legislation' that safeguards the right
of race-horses and competition horses to be exported
for legitimate reasons, but prevents the live export
of 'low value' horses such as ponies and working horses
which are then slaughtered abroad.
2. This week interest groups, including the International
League for the Protection of Horses, today presented
a petition of 85,000 signatures to the President of
the European Parliament, Pat Cox MEP.
For more information, contact:
Polly McPherson
Tel: 0131 554 9150
Fax: 0131 554 1549
Mobile: 07810 891 831
E-mail: polly@indigopr.com
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