Ferry operator will stop carrying all live animals following sustained pressure from NGOs
In a major victory for animals, Brittany Ferries has confirmed it will end the transport of all live farmed animals, including unweaned calves, from Ireland to France from September 2026 at the latest.
The decision follows a sustained international campaign led by several NGOs including Ethical Farming Ireland (EFI), Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), WELFARM, FOUR PAWS, L214, Eyes on Animals, Eurogroup for Animals, Southampton Animal Action and Dorset Animal Action.
In a decision which provoked international outcry, Brittany Ferries resumed transporting live animals in March 2025 after a 30 year break. In response, EFI and partner NGOs in Europe sent a joint letter to the CEO with over 100 signatories, including national treasure Pauline McLynn and . This was followed by actions that mobilised European citizens with more than 100,000 emails being sent to the company. Two petitions obtained over 100,000 signatures.
In addition, regular protests were held in Ireland, France and the UK over the past year. A joint social media storm also drew their customers’ attention to this cruel policy change across the company’s social media channels in the UK, France, Spain and Poland. Brittany Ferries’ Trustpilot page was temporarily taken down as a direct result of the action.
This resulted in four meetings with the company and NGOs – in which advocates called for an immediate end to the practice of transporting unweaned calves and all other animals.
By the time the ferry reaches France on these journeys, unweaned calves have gone for over 24 hours without food. This is inhumane, and in breach of EU transport regulations. The calves are then transported onwards to other countries including the Netherlands, Spain, where they may end up in cruel veal farms or fattened and exported on to countries outside the EU that have appalling animal welfare standards.
We first contacted Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu in October 2023, along with L214, Eyes on Animals and CIWF, after hearing of their plans to resume involvement in the live export industry. We sent them the EU audit report confirming the transport of unweaned calves breaches EU legislation as the calves cannot be fed, we sent them peer reviewed studies that concluded calves suffer from dehydration, low energy, muscle fatigue, respiratory illness and hypoglycaemia. They knew of the issues, yet they went ahead and in March 2025 the Brittany Ferries Cotentin started carrying livestock trucks, including trucks full of bawling unweaned calves.
In a survey released in January, 84% of Irish citizens expressed concern about the transport of unweaned animals, with just 39% having confidence in the Irish authorities to enforce live transport rules effectively. The export of live animals for fattening and slaughter was banned in Great Britain in 2024, on the grounds of cruelty.
Brittany Ferries’ withdrawal from this trade makes Irish Ferries an outlier, as the only carrier to continue the cruel practice of transporting unweaned calves from Ireland to France, since Stena Line withdrew from the route last year. Pressure is now mounting on Irish Ferries to follow suit.
Caroline Rowley Executive Director for Ethical Farming Ireland said:
“Brittany Ferries started transporting unweaned calves from Ireland last year in the full knowledge that they could not be fed during the 18-hour ferry journey to France, which is not only cruel it is in breach of EU legislation.
“After over a year of campaigning we are delighted that the CEO has finally made the principled choice to stop all involvement in this trade. Irish Ferries is now the only ferry company profiting from animal cruelty and suffering.”
Charlotte Reid Deputy Director of Global Campaigns, said:
“This is a landmark victory for animals. After months of campaigning by NGOs, with the support of hundreds of thousands of supporters across Europe, Brittany Ferries has finally listened.
“Animals are not cargo and they should not be forced to suffer on these gruelling, stressful journeys.
“We won’t stop campaigning until this cruel, unnecessary practice has been completely consigned to the history books. Irish Ferries is now the only operator continuing the trade from Ireland to France, and we’re calling on them to urgently follow suit and end the live transport of animals.”
Corinna Reinisch, Animal Welfare Issue Navigator for big cats, bears and farmed animals at FOUR PAWS said:
“With one less ferry company transporting live animals, this is a major victory for animal welfare in Europe. By choosing to opt out of this practice, Brittany Ferries put animal welfare over profit.
“While we celebrate this development, it must also be seen as a wakeup call for others. Both the European Union and private companies must follow along. EU decision makers must realise that transporting live animals by sea is an outdated practice that causes unnecessary animal suffering.”
Brigitte Gothière, Executive Director at L214 said:
“This is a historic victory that marks a decisive step towards ending this shameful trade. L214 and European NGOs will remain fully mobilised to ensure that no unweaned calf is ever transported across the English Channel again.”
Cat Phipps from Southampton Animal Action, said:
“This is great news for the animals and for the community of protesters who have been present at Portsmouth Port for over a year. This trade is unacceptable and we know from meeting their customers that they think this too.”
The EU is currently reviewing transport regulation (EC) No 1/2005, that is over 20 years old. Whilst better enforcement of current rules is badly needed, we urge European lawmakers to speed up negotiations to achieve an ambitious revision that ensures the highest welfare standards for animals during transport and a complete ban on the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening.
There has been a lot of coverage on this:
Brittany Ferries to end live animal transport from Ireland to France
Brittany Ferries to cease live exports from September
Campaigners hail Brittany Ferries’ livestock decision as ‘major victory’
Brittany Ferries to cease live animal exports
Blow to calf exports as Brittany Ferries to end livestock transport
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