Ban live exports to slaughter

The Kept Animals Bill, which will ban live exports of animals for slaughter and fattening, was first introduced to the UK Parliament in June 2021 and despite cross-party support it has still not become law. Your help is needed to ensure the UK Government delivers on its manifesto commitment to ban live exports to slaughter. 

While no horse, pony or donkey has officially been declared as being exported for slaughter in recent years, we know there is a trade in equines being smuggled out of the country – often in poor welfare conditions and on fraudulent passports to ensure that all could go to slaughter. Some of these vulnerable animals will end their lives in a slaughterhouse, despite being signed out of the food chain on their official passports.  

These are not just horses that have been bred for this trade. Any horse can end up being exported to slaughter, from outgrown children’s ponies through to ex-sports horses; horses sold with the best of intentions and in the belief that they could never end their lives in a slaughterhouse.  

The Kept Animals Bill will make it illegal to export equines to slaughter, allowing for stronger measures to be put in place to help ensure the individuals involved are identified and action can be taken to stop this trade.  

With time running out, your support is urgently needed to call on the Prime Minister to get this Bill over the line and ensure live exports of animals to slaughter are banned. 

You can find further information on our position on horse smuggling here.