Last week (2nd December) we reported that a shipment of over 2,000 Irish bulls were en route to Libya and raised concerns about the horrific conditions these animals may be kept in during their 10 day sea journey.

Numbers on the rise

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. In fact, shockingly, there has been a huge increase in live cattle exports from the EU to the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.

Commission data shows that the number of animals exported to these countries in the first nine months of 2016 is more than double the number exported to this region in 2014 and almost a quarter more than the number exported in 2015.

In response to this new data, our Chief Policy Advisor, Peter Stevenson, has written a letter to the Commission, alongside Eyes on Animals and Animal Welfare Foundation, to stress the immense suffering inflicted on these animals as a result of this trade.

The letter states that EU live exports are being carried out in ways that breach the EU Treaty, EU law on the protection of animals during transport and internationally agreed standards on welfare at slaughter and urges the Commission to end live exports.

Peter Stevenson said: “It is disgraceful that we are seeing a rise in the numbers of live animal exports. The cruelty involved is the some of the worst that I have seen in my 25 years working in animal welfare and the Commission’s refusal to act is the worst dereliction of duty I’ve seen in that time.”

We won’t give up

Despite informing the Commission many times previously, they have made no attempt to end or reduce live exports. However, we will not give up. With your continued support, we will keep campaigning and applying pressure to the Commission until this cruel and unnecessary trade has ended once and for all.

Please consider donating today to help Compassion end this trade and protect millions from suffering.

New data shows live cattle export numbers are on the rise