Protesters rally over live animal exports

CAMPAIGNERS against live animal exports held a rally in Ramsgate on Wednesday.

Members of Thanet Against Live Exports (Tale) met with South East Euro MP Keith Taylor, who was visiting Ramsgate to find out more about what is happening at the port and to discuss campaigners' concerns.

MESSAGE OF HOPE: South East MEP Keith Taylor meets with campaigners against live animal exports at Government Acre, Ramsgate
Thanet : Green party MEP for the South East Keith Taylorl meeting with anti live exports campaigners at Ramsgate's Government Acre to show his support.
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The MEP told about 50 protesters who gathered at Government Acre that he had written to European Commissioner John Dalli urging better enforcement of EU standards on animal shipments and to consider the introduction of an eight-hour maximum transportation limit.

Mr Taylor said: "There is evidence that animals are transported over thousands of kilometres with EU welfare protection safeguards ignored or poorly applied, causing suffering and distress to the animals.

"It is not acceptable to allow such practices to continue merely to satisfy traders' thirst for profit. EU welfare standards must be rigorously enforced and stricter transport time limits introduced as a step towards ending live exports. I am looking forward to discussing this issue with local campaigners and finding out what more I can do to support them."

Thanet South MP Laura Sandys raised the issue in Parliament last month, calling on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to crack down on "cavalier exporters".

Last week a national newspaper claimed that one of the companies owned by Dutch animal trader Johannes Onderwater, whose ship Joline is used to carry calves and sheep from the Port of Ramsgate, had been convicted of an animal welfare offence when it tried to smuggle live sheep as "boxed meat".

Last week Agriculture Minister Jim Paice said transport companies exporting live animals from Ramsgate have been warned they must put a stop to unnecessary delays after loaded trucks of livestock were kept waiting at the port for hours.

Tale campaigner Reginald Bell said: "This is some of the best news we have had so far because if Defra takes this up they can stop the whole trade."

A link to the petition against live animal exports can be found on Thanet council's homepage at www.thanet.gov.uk