Transport Of Live Animals

EDM number 21 in 1993-94, proposed by Andrew Bowden on 18/11/1993.

That this House congratulates the RSPCA undercover inspectors on producing evidence of animals being transported for over 44 hours from Dover to Pianella, Italy, without food or water, leading to the successful prosecution of a long distance animal transporter by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for breaches of United Kingdom export regulations; notes with concern that HMSO statistics show that two million animals were transported live from the United Kingdom in 1992 and that RSPCA forecasts suggest that over two million sheep alone will be transported live by the end of 1993; further believes that animals transported live for long distances endure unnecessary stress and suffering; is alarmed that RSPCA trails show enforcement of existing EC transport rules to be virtually non-existent; believes that this trade does not enhance the good reputation of British farming, nor does it serve the interests of the British slaughter industry; notes that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have received over 100,000 pieces of correspondence on this issue alone in 1993, reflecting the strong public feelings about this trade; and further hopes that Her Majesty's Government will support British public opinion by pressing the European Community to agree to a mamimum journey time of eight hours for all animals destined for slaughter and support vigorous and uniform enforcement of the transport directive throughout the Community.

This motion has been signed by a total of 126 MPs.