Millions of animals are transported across Europe and beyond each year in conditions that cause significant suffering. Post-Brexit UK reforms represent an opportunity to improve on EU standards, but implementation has been slow.
Live transport welfare encompasses both acute and cumulative suffering. Individual journey events — loading, vehicle motion, temperature extremes, crowding, and unfamiliar social groups — cause acute stress measurable through cortisol and behaviour. Cumulative effects of multi-day journeys include dehydration, injury from falls and fighting, and immune compromise. The welfare case for replacing live transport with a carcase-only trade is well-established: slaughtering animals close to farm eliminates transport stress entirely. However, economic incentives and international trade agreements make this transition commercially difficult. The UK's 2024 ban on live exports for slaughter represents genuine welfare progress; enforcement of remaining journey welfare requirements remains inadequate.