Concerns and delight as live export for slaughter banned

The royal assent of the bill has been welcomed, but there could be a potential loophole

- LUCY ELDER

EXPORTING horses for slaughter from Britain has been banned in a “defining moment” for animal welfare.

The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill passed its third and final reading in the House of Lords on 14 May and was granted royal assent on Monday (20 May), so it is now law. But worries have been aired over a possible loophole.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said the law “ensures that no horse, pony or donkey will legally be exported from Great Britain for slaughter and while this is a monumental step forward, plenty more needs to be achieved to effectively combat the illegal export of equines from the country”.

“This will rely on the new law being effectively enforced and the introduction of full traceability of all equines, and we look forward to working with Defra to achieve this,” he said. “In the 21st century it is preposterous that equine ID is still based on a paper system, which provides an open door for horse smugglers.”