From 22 July 2024, it is an offence to export livestock and horses for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain.
The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024 bans the export of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses for fattening and slaughter from Great Britain. It applies to journeys from, and transit journeys through, Great Britain to destinations outside the UK, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. The legislation stops animals enduring stress, exhaustion and injury on long and unnecessary export journeys and also ensures that animals are slaughtered domestically, in high welfare UK slaughterhouses.
Live animal exports for other purposes, for example, breeding and competitions, are still permitted provided that animals are transported in line with legal requirements which protect their welfare. The ban does not apply to exports of other live animals, such as poultry, and it does not apply in Northern Ireland. The legislation does not affect livestock and horse movements within the UK.