News

5th April 2004

Local Conservative MEP condemns live horse export threat

New rules that could mean the export of live horses and ponies from Britain for slaughter in the EU took a step closer last week, bringing condemnation from local Conservatives. John Bowis, Conservative MEP for London, visited the Wimbledon Village Stables on Saturday 3rd April to highlight the threat to British horses. A vote in the European Parliament last week preserved Britain’s right to prevent the export of live horses, but the British Government has so far refused to confirm they will continue the exemption.

John Bowis said, “For 70 years Britain has had an exemption from exporting our horses for slaughter, under what are known as ‘Minimum Value Rules’. My visit to the Wimbledon Village Stables, follows calls from them and their members for help with highlighting the threat to horses in Britain if these new rules become a reality. Conservative MEPs have ensured that the proposals include an option allowing Member States to opt-out of the export of live horses and ponies for slaughter. We are calling on the British government to secure this opt-out in the interests of animal welfare. We are a nation of animal lovers, and very few people in this country support this trade. It is important to keep up the pressure on the Labour Government to maintain the ban on live horse exports.”

“I was delighted to have this opportunity to meet staff and users of the stables and listen to their concerns. There is substantial evidence that horses transported for slaughter experience considerable welfare problems during transport. Our laws must not be changed by those who do not share the seriousness with which we treat animal welfare in the UK.”

Notes:

The European Commission proposal would end the so-called 'Minimum Values legislation' that safeguards the right of race-horses and competition horses to be exported for legitimate reasons, but prevents the live export of 'low value' horses such as ponies and working horses which are then slaughtered abroad.

Interest groups, including the International League for the Protection of Horses, last week presented a petition of 85,000 signatures to the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox MEP.

John Bowis visits Wimbledon Village Stables to highlight the threat of live horse exports from the UK to the Continent.