23 Jun 2020

EU Commission Confirms Export of Calves from Ireland Unlawful

by EFI | posted in: Government policy, Live Export | 11

Ethical Farming Ireland has been investigating the export of unweaned calves from Ireland for some time now and has been particularly concerned over rough handling and the fact calves cannot be fed during transit. Two investigations by Eyes on Animals … Continued

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Ethical Farming Ireland

This situation is absolutely appalling. It seems the authorities are not being permitted to enter the vessels to determine the state of the animals on board. The death toll must be huge. How many more disasters do we need before this hideous trade is banned? There are no contingency plans in place at all for situations like this. Sending young animals half way round the world in old rust buckets that are barely sea worthy is absurd and the risks of injury, sickness and death far outweight any economic gain. At the very least these two vessels must have their approvals revoked and the operating companies must be held accountable. What were the captains thinking? Going from pillar to post in a futile attempt to offload the animals to recoup some of their losses! Where does the responsibility lie?The exporting companies? The vessel owners? The vessel operating companies? Or the competent authority? Whoever is responsible it's the innocent parties who are the ones suffering - the animals. Always it's the animals who pay the price for human greed and incompetence. This industry has to end.

Cattle stranded at sea for two months are likely dead or ‘suffering hell’

Two livestock ships have been refused entry to multiple countries on health grounds since leaving Spain in December

theguardian.com

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Ethical Farming Ireland

“There are no facilities on the ferries to unload and feed the calves, which is necessary as they are on a liquid diet and must be fed individually, meaning the calves are going as long as 30 hours with no feed. Not only is this a clear breach of EU Regulation 1/2005, it is inhumane and compromises the welfare of very young and vulnerable animals. Neither company has shown willingness to cease being complicit in this trade.”
It's time the ferry companies stepped up and took responsibility and stopped transporting unweaned calves Irish Ferries Stena Line UKIE Eyes on Animals Compassion in World Farming

If you are concerned about this you can email the CEO of Stena Line Niclas Martensson at niclas.martensson@stenaline.com and the CEO of Irish Ferries Eamonn Rothwell at eamonn.rothwell@icg.ie
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/live-export-of-unweaned-calves-breaches-eu-animal-welfare-regulations-w8g60kz2b

Live export of unweaned calves ‘breaches EU animal welfare regulations’

A coalition of animal welfare organisations are to lodge a complaint with the European Commission alleging that the live export of unweaned calves from Ireland breaches regulations on transporting

thetimes.co.uk

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Ethical Farming Ireland

This is appalling. We should be increasing our hedgerows not destroying them.

Noteworthy

🚨 NEW INVESTIGATION

Over the past few months, we examined the scale of hedge cutting by local authorities during the bird nesting season and how the NPWS responds to illegal cutting. We reveal that at least 3,000km of hedgerow and verge have been cut by local authorities during the bird nesting season over the last three years at a cost of €1.4 million. Read now:

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Ethical Farming Ireland

This situation is appalling. If the Spanish authorities have stated they will take the animals back and the Karim Allah is heading to Cartagena now, due to arrive in two days. The Elbiek is still anchored off Cyprus. MEP Tilly Metz “yet another live animal transport scandal involving ships. After the 2019 tragedy of the [Queen Hind] ship, which capsized with 14,000 sheep on board, now allegedly over 2,600 bovines [are] stuck on two vessels wandering from port to port in search of help. How can it be that there is no contingency plan in case of diseases or other unforeseen events?” The live export industry is archaic, inhumane and unnecessary. This is further proof of how useless the Regulations are and how dangerous the industry is. I hope the nightmare will soon be over for these porr animals. Well done to all those who have been desparately trying to get the situation resolved #BanLiveExports

Calls for vets to be sent to cattle ships stranded at sea since December

Concern mounts for welfare of more than 2,500 livestock on two vessels off Italy and Cyprus after bluetongue outbreak

theguardian.com

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EU animal welfare policy