Francisco Guerreiro calls for prohibition of live animal exports to Libya

Lisbon, 9 April 2020 – MEP Francisco Guerreiro (PAN) signed a letter urging the European Commission to prohibit live animal exports to Libya, since compliance with standards on animal welfare is not ensured. 

Even though the country is wartorn, EU Member States continue to export live cattle to Libya. In these conditions, marked by the absence of effective authorities, it becomes impossible to ensure respect for the safety, health and welfare of the animals.

This letter is, therefore, driven by the lack of action on the part of the European Commission, who is abstaining from banning the export of live animals to the territory or discouraging Member States from allowing such exports.  

Signatories say that “to send animals to a war-torn country with no effective authority that can ensure they are slaughtered in accordance with international standards on welfare at slaughter is in breach of Article 13 TFEU”. 

This requires that when formulating and implementing the Union's agriculture, fisheries, transport, internal market, research and technological development and space policies, the EU and the Member States shall pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals, as sentient beings.

Read the full letter here:

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