Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
from – http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=103354&command=displayContent&sourceNode=103331&contentPK=8947569

HORSE EXPORTS FIGHT TAKEN TO EURO MPS

 by LINDSEY KENNEDY

09:00 – 23 February 2004

 Pressure from Westcountry campaigners is to be brought to bear on Euro MPs in a last ditch bid to stop British horses and ponies being exported abroad for slaughter. A leading equine welfare charity is now urging Western Morning News readers to crank up the pressure on MEPs to vote for an opt-out clause and protect ponies like the Dartmoor and Exmoor.

The plea came from the International League for the Protection of Horses ahead of the EU debate on live exports in March.

Opinion in the Westcountry has already been registered with Government ministers, through a powerful 65,000-strong WMN petition. This called on the Government to amend the draft EU legislation enabling Britain to outlaw the export of low-value horses, ponies and donkeys.

Now the pressure is turning firmly on MEPs to back the call.

Horse owner Carol Scholes, who lives near Tiverton, said she had already written to MEP Giles Chichester about the issue.

"I just think it is totally wrong that they should travel these huge distances just to be slaughtered. It is dreadful.

"I think we must do as much as we can – and that includes writing to MEPs to put the pressure on them," she said.

Mrs Scholes said she watched an ILPH video showing the conditions horses were forced to travel in.

She said: "Any horse owner, or anyone with any humanity, should oppose this legislation."

Jo White, ILPH campaigns manager, said they were making a "final push" before petitions close at the end of the month.

She said: "We are urging all our supporters to rally and make an extra effort to get more signatures. We are now at a point where public support must also be directed towards the politicians who must put pressure on the Government to act so that the export trade is not resumed."

WMN readers can find out who your local MEP is by visiting the European Parliament at www.europarl.org.uk

The ILPH was instrumental in the ending of live exports of horses and ponies for slaughter when in 1937 The Exportation of Horses Act, drafted by ILPH director, Sir George Cockerill MP, received Royal Assent and became legislation.

The Act established the principle of the minimum values legislation, which effectively stopped the export to mainland Europe of horses, ponies or donkeys under a certain value.

Since the publication last summer of the new EU draft Regulation on the Protection of Animals during Transport, there has been growing concern about the possible resumption of the export to mainland Europe of British horses and ponies for slaughter for human consumption.

This is because the draft Regulation doesn't currently include a provision to allow the UK to uphold protective legislation.

The deadline for petitions is Sunday February 29. To find out more about the issue, the charity's website is at www.ilph.org

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