Consultation outcome

Live animal exports: improvements to animal welfare in transport

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Applies to England and Wales

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Detail of outcome

We received 11,395 responses to this consultation. Following the consultation, the government has introduced the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, which includes measures to ban live animal exports for slaughter and fattening.

On the wider welfare in transport reforms, we’ll work closely with industry, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders on our proposed policies through a series of workshops. We’ll use the workshops to explore some of the issues and the evidence in more detail and develop workable solutions which will generate good welfare outcomes.

Once agreed, we’ll implement a package of reforms through secondary legislation or guidance, as appropriate.


Original consultation

Summary

Seeking views on ending live animal exports for slaughter and fattening, starting in or transported through England or Wales, and on further improvements to animal welfare in transport.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

We want to know what you think about ending the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening in England and Wales, where the journeys begin in or transit through either country. We also want to know what you think about further improvements to animal welfare in transport, including:

  • reduced maximum journey times
  • animals being given more space and headroom during transport
  • stricter rules on transporting animals in extreme temperatures
  • tighter rules for transporting live animals by sea

Updates to this page

Published 3 December 2020
Last updated 18 August 2021 + show all updates
  1. Added the summary of responses and government response.

  2. Changed consultation closing date to 25 February 2021.

  3. Changed the closing date to 28 January 2021.

  4. First published.

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