EUROPEAN TRADE IN HORSES FOR SLAUGHTER

That this House condemns the long distance transport of horses for slaughter at abattoirs in other EU countries; notes it is estimated that more than 100,000 horses are fattened at farms before being transported in appalling conditions with little food and water for days at a time to slaughterhouses in Italy, the capital of Europe's horsemeat trade; believes that such practice risks spreading diseases to animals in other EU countries and has implications for human health; calls on the Government to seek to strengthen the existing minimum values legislation which prevents the export of live horses from the UK for such purposes to ensure that it is not vulnerable to challenge; and urges UK members of the European Parliament to be vocal in their support for the EU to enforce a carcass-only trade.