Animal Welfare Act Banning Livestock Exports Gets Royal Assent

With a recent Royal Assent to the Animal Welfare Act, an additional prohibition on the overseas shipment of live livestock has been enacted.

According to the new legislation, animals cannot be transported from the United Kingdom for feeding or killing. Livestock shipments are going to continue under certain conditions, such as those pertaining to reproduction and contests.

Reacting to the legislation, Defra Secretary stated: “We are proud to have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.

“Our new Act makes use of post-Brexit freedoms to deliver one of our manifesto commitments and strengthen these standards even further by preventing the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening, which we know causes animals unnecessary stress and injury.”