AR-News: (UK) HINT OF U-TURN ON LIVE HORSE EXPORTS

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

09:00 - 01 April 2004 

  Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael last night hinted at a possible 
Government U-turn over the export of live horses for slaughter - as he came under 
intense pressure at Westminster to ban the "abhorrent" trade.

Speaking at the end of a 90-minute Commons debate on the issue Mr Michael, 
who is also the "Minister for the Horse", said the Government would examine the 
practical details of this week's vote in the European Parliament that would 
allow the UK to ban live horse exports.

"It is interesting and it may be helpful," he said. "We are going to look at 
it in detail."

His comments represent a significant shift from the minister, who has 
previously insisted that a simple ban on the live export of horses and ponies for 
human consumption would be "unworkable and unenforceable".

Jo White, campaigns manager for the International League for the Protection 
of Horses, welcomed Mr Michael's comments as "an encouraging step forward".

But she warned that more pressure would be needed to ensure the Government 
acted when EU agricultural ministers vote on the issue at the end of this month.

Last year the WMN led a campaign during which 65,982 people signed a petition 
opposed to the live export of horses, ponies and donkeys for slaughter abroad.






full story:

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=103354&command=disp
layContent&sourceNode=103331&contentPK=9429314 
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