Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
If anyone isn't 'up to speed' on this? Take a look at From http://www.warmwell.com
 
 The European commission is shortly expected to to amend its rules governing the transport of animals which – without amendment – will end Britain’s ban on the live export of horses, ponies and donkeys for slaughter. See amendment and the urgent need for its adoption

Now the pressure is turning firmly on MEPs to back the call...
...find out who your local MEP is by visiting the European Parliament at www.europarl.org.uk (See also warmwell inbox for the ILPH petition).

March 27 2004 ~ Horses Campaign goes to Europe
Western Morning News (Saturday) WMN
"The Western Morning News campaign against the live export of horses, ponies and donkeys goes to Europe next week as MEPs meet for a crunch vote on an amendment which would allow Britain to legally ban the cruel trade.

The European Parliament meets in Strasbourg on Tuesday to debate putting an amendment into a draft EU Regulation aimed at improving the welfare of animals, to give legal basis in EU law for Britain to ban horse exports.

MEPs will vote on the amendment on Wednesday, hours before Minister of the Horse Alun Michael is due to come under fire in the House of Commons for refusing to lobby fellow EU agriculture ministers to obtain a ban for British equines.

If MEPs back the amendment, drafted by Westcountry MEP Neil Parish, there will be increasing pressure on the UK Government to argue for an opt-out clause in the EU draft Regulation, due to be voted on for the final time by ministers – including Britain's Margaret Beckett – at the meeting of the Council of Ministers in Brussels in April. Ministers could decide to remove the parliament's amendment, but if MEPs back it, it will add weight to the case Mrs Beckett would be able make to her European partners for an opt-out.

A deputation from the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) and the Western Morning News are travelling to Strasbourg to make MEPs aware of the depth of public anger about the issue. The ILPH will present a petition signed by 85,000 horse lovers to the parliament and the Western Morning News will present a special campaign front page – emblazoned with 65,982 – the number of signatures collected by the paper supporting the call for a ban.

Jo White, campaigns director for the ILPH, said: "Things are certainly starting to hot up. This is extremely important for us because if the European Parliament votes this through – and they are very supportive, with the European Commission looking at some way of obtaining a ban – this will step up the pressure on the Government."

Defra Minister Alun Michael is expected to face tough questions in the Commons on Wednesday afternoon from Tory countryside spokesman James Gray, who will arrive at the Houses of Parliament on horseback, about why he will not back an opt-out. Mr Michael has previously refused to argue for an opt-out for Britain, on the advice of Defra officials who believe that such a move would have no basis in EU law and would be rejected outright by ministers from other member states.

But Kent Tory MP Roger Gale, who is the president of the Conservative animal welfare group, said: "It is generally believed by MPs of all parties that if our ministers were simply to take a robust line they would find that they were pushing at an open door and that the European Parliament and the Commission would recognise the strength of UK feeling over this issue and for the need for an opt-out to protect our animals not just for today, but for the future." ... March 21 – 28 2004 ~ Defra Urged to Act in Horse Export Row
By Amanda Brown, Environment Correspondent, PA News.

"The Government was urged today to stand up to the EU in a row over the export of live horses for slaughter.

The move comes amid fears that new draft EU regulations could allow the resumption of a live export trade – banned by the UK government since 1937 with the passing of the Exportation of Horses Act. This is because the draft rules do not currently include a provision to allow the UK to uphold protective legislation.

Minister of State for Rural Affairs Alun Michael is under pressure to act on this issue.

The International League for the Protection of Horses is lobbying both in Europe and the UK, not only to stop the resumption of live traffic, but also to improve the welfare during transport of 185,000 horses, ponies and donkeys slaughtered each year in the EU for human consumption.

The British Event Team has also signed up the ILPH campaign. Eventer Pippa Funnell, ranked number one in the world and recent Rolex Grand Slam winner, said “I cannot believe that every year tens of thousands of horses travel in misery for days on end across Europe for slaughter, just for somebody to eat. “We must not allow this traffic from the UK to start again. We owe it to our horses and ponies to protect them. “We must act now and support the ILPH.”

The Scotsman
March 7 – 13 ~ DEFRA " “It is hard to make a case for the special treatment of horses.”

We find DEFRA's position with regard to the new EU Draft Regulation extraordinary. Alun Michael – Minister for the Horse -says in this letter that maintaining our position on not exporting horses for slaughter "is not an option". It is an option.

The UK government have been handed a solution. Their refusal to engage with it is a national disgrace.

The amendment by Caroline Lucas (Green Party MEP) reads: "Member States may on grounds of public morality prohibit the export of horses ponies and donkeys destined for slaughter to other Member States or third countries."

We believe that she is still waiting for a response from Margaret Beckett to her urgent letter " If the Commission and more importantly, the Council, were to accept my amendment the UK would be able to retain its ban on the export of horses and ponies. ... Support from the UK government for my amendment is therefore crucial if we are not to see the beginning of a trade in live horses from the UK"

TheSunday Times headline implies that the matter is beyond solution: "... The lifting of the ban could lead to tens of thousands of British horses being exported each year. James Gray, Conservative spokesman on rural affairs, said: “The main market will be the horse abattoirs in southern Italy, which will mean these animals being on the road for days. It will be a cruel trade and I want this ban to remain in place.”

March 7 2004 ~ British horsemeat ban to be lifted
Tens of thousands of British horses could be sent for slaughter in continental abattoirs under government plans to lift a 70-year ban on the trade, writes Jonathan Leake. Horses are regarded as livestock in countries such as Italy and France, where horse steaks and salami made from the animals are widely eaten. In Britain horses cannot be exported live unless they are valued at more than £5,000, a rule that allows exports of racehorses but blocks trade in food animals. ..."