In a bid to draw attention to the return of the live export trade to Dover port earlier this year, animal welfare group Compassion in World Farming staged a protest in London on Saturday 10th August.

The animal welfare charity invited members of the public to join the demonstration, a march through the capital, in the week before its protest. The organisation called on the UK government to amend a Victorian law which would allow ports to refuse to deal with live animal exporters, though the government claims the trade is protected by European law and has so far refused to act.

Following repairs to loading apparatus at Dover, the trade returned to its longstanding UK base in May this year. Prior to the repairs, live animal exports had been conducted from Ramsgate since 2011, except for a brief period of suspension after an incident at the port in which over 40 sheep died.

Compassion in World Farming said that over ten thousand sheep and calves have been exported live through Dover since the trade returned to the port in May. Upon its return to the port, Dover Harbour Board reiterated that the trade is legal and said it was "duty bound" to allow exports to go ahead; legal challenges by port authorities and most recently the RSPCA have repeatedly failed in the UK.

Responding to a government e-petition last year, Defra officials said "To ban the trade, either directly or by indirect means, would be illegal and would undermine the principle of the free-movement of goods." Despite the government's claims to the contrary, Compassion last week accused officials of using EU legislation "as an excuse not to stop live exports."

The charity maintains that the160 year-old Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847, which prevents public ports in Britain from refusing live animals for export on the grounds that they must allow the free trade of 'goods', is deeply flawed.  Compassion said, "UK law should reflect that animals have been recognised as sentient beings under EU law since 1999. A different set of rules and regulations should apply to sentient creatures."

The charity said Farming Minister David Heath has the power to amend the 1847 Act, giving public ports the option of refusing to facilitate live animal exports, without breaking EU law. This weekend's march formed the latest attempt to create a groundswell of public support and increase pressure on the Farming Minister.

Compassion CEO Philip Lymbery said on Wednesday (7th August), ahead of the planned march through London, "Our supporters are sending a clear message to David Heath MP that we are demanding action to be taken to end live exports for good. This government has used European legislation as an excuse not to end the cruel and unpopular export of live animals to an uncertain fate on the continent. Defra has said it would prefer to see animals slaughtered as near as possible to where they are reared so now we need to see some action, not more excuses."

The NFU is openly supportive of live exports, claiming the trade represents a lucrative opportunity for some of Britain's farmers and that strict EU rules mandating regular breaks from travel and the provision of water ensure the animals' welfare. Nevertheless, public opinion is turning against live exports; MPs and councillors from all major political parties have been consistently and outspokenly critical of live exports when the business has relocated to their local port over the past two years.  

The March between Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square attracted 500 protestors. Emma Slawinski from Compassion said she was extremely happy with the "good turnout, for the time of year [and] positive atmosphere". Demonstrators held placards and distributed leaflets over the course of the march. Ms Slawinski added, "what was really effective was that there were people from London and other parts of the UK, but also from Kent, where this is actually happening on the ground."

Saturday’s march follows a protest held on 3rd August in Dover. Around 250 demonstrators attended the protest against live exports organised by RSPCA.

The March between Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square attracted 500 protestors. Emma Slawinski from Compassion said she was extremely happy with the "good turnout, for the time of year [and] positive atmosphere". Demonstrators held placards and distributed leaflets over the course of the march. Ms Slawinski added, "what was really effective was that there were people from London and other parts of the UK, but also from Kent, where this is actually happening on the ground."