Australia Bans Sheep Exports: A Landmark Victory Against Animal Cruelty

Australia Bans Live Sheep Exports: A Landmark Victory Against Animal Cruelty

Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS welcomes this milestone against live animal sea transports

2.7.2024

Vienna, 02 July 2024 – In May 2024, Australia’s parliament announced to put an end to the cruel maritime live export of sheep from 2028 onwards. Now in July – not even two months later – the legislation has officially passed. This decision is a historic day for farm animal welfare. Australia has stepped forward to protect sheep on sea – it is now high time for the EU – the world’s biggest exporter of live animals – to follow Australia’s example. Animals across the world still suffer on gruesome journeys by land and sea – it is high time to end cruel transports and transition towards alternatives such as a trade in meat and carcasses.

“This is a huge success for the affected animals and a good practice for animal welfare worldwide. Sheep won’t have to endure long torturous journeys on crowded cargo ships and unthinkable conditions like extreme temperatures, high levels of stress, infections and a lack of food and water anymore. Australia’s example shows that change is possible. 

Now we need the EU decisionmakers to follow this stellar example: This development must open up further discussions on the Transport Proposal that the EU Commission published late last year. As the world’s biggest exporter of live animals, it’s time for sustainable change and prioritising the wellbeing of farm animals. Transport via sea must come to an end – in Australia, the EU and across the world."

Corinna Reinisch, Programme Lead Farm Animal Welfare at FOUR PAWS

Australia is banning the export of sheep by sea. But what about the EU?

1.5 billion poultry and 51 million cattle, pigs, sheep and goats are transported within and outside of the European Union annually by road and sea. After poultry, sheep are the EU’s most exported animals. Behind these numbers are real-life tragedies that happen too frequently and lead to unnecessary suffering. Untreated injuries, heat strokes, or malnourishment are just a few of the gruesome reasons animals die at sea. Disasters that could be avoided if the EU decided to ban the export of live animals by sea.

FOUR PAWS calls on decision makers in the EU and globally to finally address the animal welfare violations of live animal transport by sea and once and for all put an end to this cruel means of transport:

  • Ban live animal transport by sea
  • Ban live animal transport to third countries
  • Shift to a transport of meat and carcasses instead of live animals
  • Stop long-distance land transports over eight hours (four hours for poultry) and ideally transport animals to the nearest appropriate slaughterhouses under strict control measures

 

Anita Mangalath International PR Officer

Anita Mangalath

(she/her)
PR International Officer

anita.mangalath@four-paws.org

+43 (0) 664 848 55 87

VIER PFOTEN International 
Linke Wienzeile 236
1150 Vienna, Austria

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FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org

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