Today (28 September) we've submitted a formal legal notice to Irish Ferries, calling on the company to adhere to EU regulations and stop exporting unweaned calves from Ireland to France. This coincides with four days of protests in the UK, Ireland and France holding the company to account for its cruelty.

unnecessary suffering

This year alone, more than 160,000 calves have been transported by sea from Ireland. By the time they arrive in France, they have already faced several hours on the road and around 18 hours at sea without food. This breaches the EU animal welfare law designed to protect them. Some are as young as two weeks old.

an outlier

In 2024, following years of campaigning from Compassion and other animal activist, we successfully banned live exports from Britain. While the ban remains, Irish Ferries, who operate from UK ports, are still profiting from the trade overseas. They're the last ferry company to still carry these vulnerable animals from Ireland to France, after Stena Line and Brittany Ferries both withdrew within the past year. Brittany Ferries officially stopped at the start of September, following a relentless campaign by us, our supporters, and our allies, including Southampton Animal Action.

The legal notice, which we sent today with FOUR PAWS and WELFARM, calls on Irish Ferries to adhere to EU regulations and end its involvement in this cruel trade. This is just the first required step towards legal action. It gives the company fifteen days to respond.

the pressure is on

The spotlight is now on Irish Ferries to act. Today marks the fourth day of protests at the ports of Liverpool, Dover, Dublin and Calais – with our partners Ethical Farming Ireland, OABA, East Kent Animal Action and Merseyside Animal Rights.

Irish Ferries’ customer service desk has also been bombarded by messages from over 70,000 people across Europe, coordinated by us, asking it to stop the cruelty.

completely heartless

Eloise Shavelar, our Global Head of Campaigns and Advocacy, said:

It is completely heartless to transport unweaned calves, some as young as two weeks old, on such unnecessary long journeys. Going up to 24 hours without food is not only cruel, but it is unlawful. So why is Irish Ferries allowing this suffering on its ships?

"That is the question we are asking at ports in Ireland, the UK and France - and it is the question at the core of our legal notice. We won’t stop campaigning until the cruelty ends.

help protect calves

With two ferry companies down, and only one to go, we’re close to completely stopping cruel calf transport from Ireland to mainland Europe.

Over 70,000 people across Europe have called on Irish Ferries to stop. Use our online action to add your name.

Irish Ferries Faces Legal Action Over Live Exports