An earlier proposal from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative government was dropped earlier this year after much criticism of various proposed restrictions in livestock farming. The new bill will focus more strongly on exports.
At the British equivalent of Budget Day, King Charles announced that the new law will ban the export of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses. The transport of live animals abroad will still be permitted under certain circumstances, for example, for racehorses.
The measure will at least apply to England; discussions will be held with the regional authorities in Scotland and Wales about implementing it throughout the entire United Kingdom.
A new subsidy will also be introduced for livestock farmers to improve animal welfare, along with a fund of 4 million pounds for improvements in smaller slaughterhouses. Animal rights activists called it 'absolutely fantastic news' that an end is coming to the transport of live animals on long and arduous overseas journeys to be fattened and slaughtered elsewhere.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW), on the other hand, has been warning for many years that such a ban would cut off an ‘essential lifeline’ for sheep farmers.
The announced UK export ban has similarities with earlier plans in the European Union for reforms in animal welfare legislation. There, too, extensive plans were previously partially shelved, and only regulations on 'animal welfare during transport' will come. What exactly that will entail will be announced in December.