Great Britain will ban the export of livestock intended for slaughter or fattening in a new animal welfare lawieden.
An earlier proposal from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative government was scrapped earlier this year after much criticism over various proposed restrictions on livestock farming. The new bill will focus more heavily on exports.
On the British version 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 applies in any case to England; It will be discussed with regional authorities in Scotland and Wales to introduce it across the UK.
There will also be a new subsidy for livestock farmers to improve animal welfare and a fund of P4 million for improvements in smaller slaughterhouses. Animal activists called it 'absolutely wonderful news' that the transport of live animals on long and arduous overseas journeys to be fattened and slaughtered elsewhere is coming to an end.
The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW), on the other hand, has warned for many years that such a ban would cut off an 'essential lifeline' for sheep farmers.
The announced British export ban shows similarities with previous plans in the European Union for innovations in animal welfare law. There too, there were previously extensive plans that have been partly shelved, and there will only be rules about 'animal welfare during transport'. What that will entail will be announced in December.