Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consider allowing the export of live animals for to the EU for fattening and slaughter as part of the dynamic alignment provisions of the proposed sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU.

It is illegal to export livestock or horses for slaughter or fattening under the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024. This Government understands the strong sentiment that led to legislation to ban live exports for slaughter and fattening.

This Government has agreed with the EU to establish a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) area, by way of an SPS Agreement. Negotiations with the EU are ongoing so it would not be appropriate to comment on the detailed content at this stage. Throughout discussions, this Government has been clear about the importance of being able to set high animal welfare standards.