Today (26^th April) sees the publication of the International Trade Committee’s report Free Trade Agreement Negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council. Compassion in World Farming, who gave evidence to the Committee, welcome the fact the report highlights that slaughter standards are a welfare concern. The charity believes the future trade agreement must not permit any live exports to the Gulf.

Worldwide, every year, millions of farm animals are forced to endure journeys of hundreds, or even thousands, of miles, only to be slaughtered on arrival or be fattened in often inhumane conditions.

Peter Stevenson, Chief Policy Advisor at Compassion in World Farming said: "Compassion in World Farming welcomes the International Trade Committee’s report highlighting that slaughter standards in the Gulf are a genuine animal welfare concern. The UK Government must not permit live exports to the Gulf for any reason – including breeding – through this or any other deal. All animals exported to the Gulf will ultimately be slaughtered in conditions which will frequently fall below those required in UK law.

"We are deeply concerned by suggestions that any future trade agreement with the Gulf states should be used to increase meat exports from the UK. Any meat exported from the UK must be properly stunned before slaughter. Slaughter without pre-stunning should only be permitted for meat that will be consumed by communities living inside the UK – the UK-Gulf Cooperation Council agreement must not undermine this important protection.”

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For more information please email media.team@ciwf.org or call +44 (0)1483 521 615 

1. Read Compassion in World Farming’s written evidence submission to the International Trade Select Committee Inquiry.