The UK could impose a ban on the export of live animals for slaughter after Brexit, according to Michael Gove.

The environment secretary has launched a consultation into a ban and called on industry experts and campaigners to submit evidence. The consultation will also look at the possibility of introducing higher welfare standards for the transportation of live animals.

Current rules of the European single market currently stop the UK from preventing the export of live animals for slaughter. Last year up to 20,000 live sheep, but no cattle, were exported to Europe, according to the National Farmers’ Union. Live exports count for only a small proportion of the UK’s £2.4bn trade in meat and livestock products with the EU.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Michael Gove. Photograph: Will Rose/Greenpeace

Launching the consultation, Gove said the UK already had some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world but the government was committed to a manifesto promise to improve them further.



“All animals deserve to get the respect and care they deserve at every stage of their lives,” he said. “With all options being considered, I am keen to hear from industry, the devolved authorities and charities on all possible options and evidence on this vital issue.”

Campaigners against live exports of livestock welcomed the move. Marc Cooper, the head of the RSPCA’s farm animals department, said the charity had been calling for a ban for decades.

“It’s unacceptable and completely unnecessary that live animals are exported and transported over long distances for slaughter or further fattening,” he said. “We would like to see live exports from the UK banned and a maximum journey time of eight hours introduced. This is a chance to end the practice for good and we look forward to contributing to the review.”

Animals should be slaughtered as close to farms as possible, said John Fishwick, the president of the British Veterinary Association. “It is vital that we maintain the UK’s current high standards of animal welfare post-Brexit and seek opportunities to improve them. We look forward to contributing to this call and seeing the results once the evidence has been collected,” he said.

The shadow environment secretary, Sue Hayman, called the announcement weak and said Labour’s plan went further by proposing a ban on transporting live animals for slaughter or fattening.

“It is just the latest in a string of desperate attempts by the Tories to portray themselves as animal-friendly,” she said. “Over the last year the Tories have supported a free vote on bringing back fox hunting and overseen the largest number of badgers culled across England on record.”

The Farm Animal Welfare Committee has also launched a review into existing welfare standards for animals during transport and further research on the issue is being carried out by Scotland’s Rural College and the University of Edinburgh.