Compassion in World Farming launched an investigation when they received a tip-off about a hidden trade in European farm animals. Their Investigation Unit found a trade in cattle from the EU being sent alive into war-torn Gaza to be slaughtered.
The infrastructure in Gaza means that the slaughterhouses are incredibly basic. There's no proper restraint equipment, and the workers appear to have no training in correct slaughter practice.
Email the head of the European Commission, Mr. Juncker, and the Commissioners for Food Safety, Trade, and Agriculture. Tell them that the trade in live animals leaving the EU must stop.
EU data makes it look like this trade doesn't exist. No EU country reports live exports to the Gaza Strip or anywhere else in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). But, according to figures Compassion obtained from the Israeli authorities, in the first 10 months of 2014 alone, 27,000 European animals crossed into the OPT.
In recent correspondence with Compassion, the head of the European Commission said that although EU law states that 'full regard should be paid to animal welfare', that doesn't apply to animals being traded. If you don't think that's good enough, please join Compassion and email the Commissioners to stop the export of live animals from the EU to non-EU countries.
Dear [Commissioner],
As you will be aware, when EU animals are exported live to countries outside the EU they are no longer protected by European animal welfare law. This means these animals are extremely vulnerable to terrible abuse and cruel treatment. Investigations by Compassion in World Farming into slaughter in the Middle East have shown that animals are beaten, tied up and have their throats stabbed and hacked at while they are fully conscious. I am appalled that the Commission allows such a trade to continue.
[Your comments here]
The Commission must take urgent action to put a stop to this suffering. Other animal trades such as seal products and dog and cat fur have been stopped on the grounds of ethics, and I urge you to take the same action here.
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
[Your email address here]
