Earlier this week (2 December), after months of campaigning, Brittany Ferries heard our calls to improve conditions for the live animals it carries on its ships, in a face-to-face meeting with us, Welfarm and FOUR PAWS France.

It was the second meeting with the company, where we were able to put our concerns to them directly – highlighting the unnecessary, unjustifiable, and avoidable suffering unweaned calves endure at sea. In an important first step, Brittany Ferries indicated that they were open to adjusting their practices and would even consider putting a stop to transporting these young animals. They also agreed to a follow-up meeting in January.

Unnecessary cruelty

The meeting was the direct result of tireless campaigning from our offices, NGO partners, supporters, campaigners on the ground outside their Ports and partners across Europe, who have been criticising the company since its decision to restart live animal exports in March.

Exporting live animals for fattening and slaughter was banned in Great Britain last year on the grounds of cruelty. In the EU, carrying unweaned calves for extended periods without food is in breach of regulations, and the EU Commission expresse ‘concern’ for these vulnerable young animals just months ago.

Despite this, in 2025, over 220,000 unweaned calves have suffered the sea crossing from Ireland to France. Many also endure further journeys to Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Poland. Operated by Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries, the animals onboard experience overcrowding, extreme temperatures, no access to proper food and limited access to water.

Relentless campaigning

Relentless campaigning calling on the company to stop carrying live animals on its ships has led to this new open dialogue:

Over 200,000 emails from UK and EU supporters flooded Brittany Ferries’ customer service departments
120 high-profile signatories from across farming, academia, activism and more wrote to the company
We gathered here in the UK - as well as in Ireland and France, outside Brittany Ferries HQ and terminals, to make our message heard loud and clear
We also sent several further letters, to the company and EU Commissioner for Animal Welfare.

A first step

Although Brittany Ferries failed to commit to changing its practices, the meeting is a first step towards the ferry company realising expert and public opinion, that the practice is both in breach of EU regulations, and bad for animal welfare. It reflects the growing recognition across Europe that transporting animals' long distances is simply not acceptable and can lead to unnecessary suffering, as we saw with the almost 3,000 cows who were recently stranded on the Spiridon II ship.

Decisive action needed

Yvan SAVY, Head of our French office, said:

We had a constructive discussion with Brittany Ferries’ CEO yesterday. However, the company has yet to make any concrete commitments.

With the calving season approaching, all options must remain open. We have made it clear to Brittany Ferries that our immediate and most pressing demand is to stop the transport of unweaned calves.

A new meeting is planned with the company's CEO in the first half of January, and we hope this next conversation delivers decisive action. The export season for Irish dairy calves starts as early as February, so the window to prevent another year of suffering is rapidly closing.

Still work to be done

Charlotte Reid, our Deputy Director of Global Campaigns, added:

It’s encouraging that Brittany Ferries is finally engaging with us and showing signs that change could be possible.

It’s in the company’s power to make a real difference, but without concrete commitments, too many young unweaned calves will continue to needlessly suffer on these journeys. The meeting happened thanks to the determination of our supporters and partners across Europe who refused to look away.

But there is still plenty of work to be done. The evidence is clear: live animal exports are cruel. As seen by yesterday’s meeting, and our victory in campaigning for a ban in Great Britain last year, we won’t give up until live animal exports are completely confined to the history books.

Join our campaign calling on Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries to end live exports from Ireland.

Campaign pressure brings Brittany Ferries back to the table