Live animal export for slaughter has been banned in the UK but continues from other countries, with welfare harms occurring throughout long international journeys.
Live export subjects animals to extreme journey lengths, temperature stress, overcrowding, and poor veterinary supervision that cause significant suffering. Exporting chilled or frozen carcasses rather than live animals achieves the same commercial outcome with dramatically less animal welfare cost. The UK ban demonstrates that live export is not economically necessary when political will for reform exists.