Euro-MPs Vote To Save UK Ban On Horse Exports And Toughen Travel Times

3.12.18pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 30th Mar 2004

Chris Huhne campaigns against exports of live ponies to the continent

The European Parliament today backed tougher measures on animal welfare and protection which will allow Britain to keep the current ban on the export of horses for slaughter including New Forest ponies.

Although the parliament failed to back an overall limit of 8 hours for animal journey times advocated by the Liberal Democrats, the Commission's proposal was toughened up to set a 9 hour limit on almost all journeys for slaughter.

Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne said he was delighted that the British ban on horse exports was upheld, and pointed out that it had even had backing during the parliamentary debate from Commissioner David Byrne. 'There is now no question of New Forest ponies being exported for slaughter' he said. 'The adopted regulation stipulates that it will not obstruct stricter national measures including a total ban on the export of live equidae intended for production or slaughter'.

There was immense outcry from animal welfare groups and British MEPs alike when moves in Brussels to update the live animal transport directive put at risk an indirect ban on the export of horses that has been in place in the UK since 1937.

British Liberal Democrats have worked hard alongside animal welfare groups such as Compassion in World Farming and the Eurogroup for Animal Welfare to monitor the situation and support amendments that would prevent horses, ponies and donkeys from heading to the Continent.

'The European Parliament has had a long record of supporting animal welfare issues and I am glad to see that our New Forest and family ponies are safe'.

However, Mr Huhne felt that the rest of the transport of live animals directive did not go far enough to raise standards, although it had made some progress.

'The parliament's amendments do toughen up what the Commission proposed, which would have allowed very long journeys for animals providing that there were breaks. But it is a shame that the parliament did not back a clear cut 8 hour limit on journey times and that journeys for fattening are still allowed to be very long' said Mr Huhne.

"Overall, though, these votes give a clear signal to the Council of Ministers that the European Parliament is serious about animal welfare. I hope the British Government will now show the same support. The British public has shown what it wants and Brussels responded. Let's hope the UK government now does the same" said Mr Huhne.

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