Ahead of Ban Live Exports International Awareness Day on Sunday 14 June, we’ve written a letter to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), calling for stronger global standards for live animal exports, and ultimately a complete ban.  

a historic milestone

Live exports were banned from Great Britain in 2024, a historic milestone that proves change is possible, but every year, around the world, millions of farmed animals are transported by sea and road on long, gruelling journeys that can last weeks, and even months. They suffer overcrowding, extreme heat, hunger, dehydration, injury, severe stress and even death. 

Just last month, around 4,000 sheep and goats died off the coast of Oman.  These disasters happen time and again, with thousands of animals lost when ships are caught in conflict zones or sink. 

Celebrities support the call

More than 130 charities, experts and celebrities across 33 countries have signed our open letter, which has one clear message: animals are not cargo. 

Signatories include environmentalist and broadcaster Chris Packham OBE, and acclaimed actors Dame Joanna Lumley, Evanna Lynch, Alan Cumming and Brian Cox CBE. Eurogroup for Animals, Four Paws, Animals International and World Animal Protection are just some of the organisations that have joined our call to Ban Live Exports.

A crucial moment  

Right now, WOAH is revising its global animal transport guidelines for its 183 member states. The current standards are based on a framework which is over 20 years old.

This open letter is a key moment to bring standards in line with modern animal welfare science and recognise that long-distance live transport causes avoidable suffering. 

Animals are not cargo

Charlotte Reid, Deputy Director of Global Campaigns at Compassion in World Farming, said: 

 Animals are living, sentient beings, they are not cargo. There is no justification for forcing millions of animals to suffer these gruelling journeys every year.  

With WOAH leading the revision in transport standards, now is the time for each and every member country to bring this avoidable cruelty to an end. Strengthening their guidelines to prioritise animal welfare is an important step, but ultimately, they must ban all live exports and consign this appalling trade to the history books.

Help stop the suffering

Sign the open letter to WOAH and its 183 member states. 

Joanna Lumley and Chris Packham demand end to live animal exports