Live exports disappointment

Published 29/11/2012

Today, Thanet District Council dropped its side of the legal battle over live exports from Ramsgate, and asked the exporters to do the same.

The Council's website states that it has "had to unilaterally lift its temporary ban on the movement of live animal exports out of the Port of Ramsgate with immediate effect." If the exporters agree to drop their side of the case then the planned judicial review, which could have upheld the suspension, will not go ahead.

This is a disappointing outcome; for Thanet District Council, for all those who have campaigned for so long against this trade, and most importantly for the animals. It was hoped that the judicial review would strike a blow against the outdated and inhumane export of live animals from Britain for slaughter abroad.

Compassion's campaign to push the Government to end the trade nationally, and replace it with a trade in refrigerated or frozen meat, is now more important than ever. We will continue to work with our friends at the RSPCA, KAALE and TALE to permanently end live exports from Britain.