Catherine backs Ramsgate campaigners call on animal exports
December 22, 2011 2:47 PM
A message was sent to the European Commission today: end torturous journeys for exported animals.
Catherine Bearder, a Liberal Democrat MEP for the South East, spent the day in Ramsgate with campaigners from Kent Action Against Live Exports (KAALE).
The group is urging Europe to put an eight hour limit on live exports and toughen up on its rules for animal welfare.
Catherine said: "The eight hour rule is good for the farmer, the consumer and, most importantly, the animal.
"But, vitally, it means we can put an end this cruel practice of forcing animals to travel long distances across Europe in the back of trucks."
The eight-hour restriction would also mean closing a loophole in which meat can be labelled as 'produced' in a country where it has merely been slaughtered.
The EU-wide petition trying to force the change has already attracted almost one million signatures.
Companies have used Ramsgate for animal exports for the last 12 months and between May and October there have been shipments involving 53,123 sheep and 7,717 calves.
Catherine added: "Today showed the strength of feeling on this issue.
"There is no doubt with one million people behind the petition the Commission will have to take notice."
You can sign the petition at http://www.8hours.eu/why_8hours
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