Together, we’ve made history. This is a huge milestone for farmed animal welfare. After 100 years of campaigning, the UK Government has finally banned live animal exports from Great Britain. This means British animals will soon be spared gruelling journeys – some lasting for more than 100 hours. Exported abroad in cramped and poor conditions, farmed animals suffer mental exhaustion, physical injury, hunger, dehydration, severe stress and even death.
A brighter future for millions of animals
Figures from Defra show up to 40 million farmed animals, including sheep, calves and pigs, have been exported from Britain for further rearing and slaughter since the 1960s. This equates to a staggering 13,888 a week or 82 animals experiencing these harrowing journeys every hour. It was cruel, unnecessary – and it needed to stop.
Over the past half a century, the RSPCA has joined many organisations in campaigning to end this cruelty. There have been millions of signatures on petitions, thousands of people attending protest marches, and countless demonstrations at UK ports.
On 15 May 2024, the RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming and Kent Action Against Live Exports (KAALE) all came together at the White Cliffs of Dover to celebrate a milestone moment. Finally, the UK Government voted to ban the live export of animals from Great Britain for fattening and slaughter.
Thank you
Thank you so much to everyone who has campaigned on this vital issue – and thank you to the UK Government for finally bringing in this ban. Together we have achieved something momentous for animals.This moment marks an important reminder of what we can achieve when we work together for animal welfare – and strive to create a better world for every kind.
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