Dover District Council is set to launch an investigation into the controversial live animal export trade, which currently operates exclusively through the town's port.

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Dover Port was home to the UK live export trade before damage to a loading ramp led exporters to relocate to Ramsgate in 2011. An incident in Ramsgate in 2012 in which over 40 sheep died, led to increased scrutiny of the live export trade and a brief suspension of live animal exports.

However, the trade re-established its base at Dover in May last year, after repairs were made to loading gear, and amidst pressing questions about the suitability of Ramsgate for cargos of live animals. Upon the exporters' return, the port authorities pointed out that the live export trade is legal, and as such Dover Port is obliged to facilitate it, adding that authorities "hope that the significantly shorter sea crossing from Dover [to Calais], when compared with other ports, will at least bring some relative benefit for the welfare of the animals in the transporters."   

Although the trade is legal, animal welfare groups including Compassion in World Farming and, more prominently, RSPCA have campaigned against live exports, claiming the practice is outdated and causes unnecessarily suffering. In the 1990s, Dover Harbour Board was taken to court by exporters for attempting to refuse them access to the port.

In March 2013, a high-profile legal challenge against live exports from Ramsgate Port filed by the RSPCA failed the High Court. Subsequent legal challenges by the charity have also been rejected. RSPCA aims to bring live exports to an end and believes that all meat travelling to mainland Europe from the UK should be 'on the hook, not on the hoof'.  

The NFU has consistently supported the live export trade, which it claims is a "legal, legitimate and valuable" option for farmers.

Council motion on live exports

On Thursday, the animal welfare charity welcomed news that Dover District Councillors will open an investigation into the resumption of live exports from the local port. At a meeting in July last year, Councillors passed a motion by Councillor Mike Eddy to refer the situation at Dover Port to the Council's Scrutiny Committee.

The motion read, "This Council opposes the resumption of the export of live animals to continental Europe from the port of Dover, despite widespread opposition from the British public and resolves to lobby the Secretaries of State for Transport and for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to amend the outdated Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847 in order to allow port authorities in the UK the right to refuse the use of its port to any ship involved in such activities."

Councillor Eddy also pledged to lobby Dover Harbour Board to grant RSPCA inspectors access to the port and inspect any future shipments of live animals to the Continent.

A Dover District Council spokesman said on Thursday, "In July 2013, a motion was put to Full Council regarding the export of live animals, including a proposal that the Council oppose the resumption of the export of live animals from the Port of Dover. We can confirm that the Scrutiny Committee will be considering the matter in March [or] April."

Also commenting on Thursday, RSPCA Senior Parliamentary Adviser Lenny Rolles commented, "Since the issue was discussed at the July full council meeting over 100 lorries, which is more than 40,000 animals, have needlessly passed through the Port of Dover. We welcome that Dover District Council have begun the inquiry and the RSPCA will be submitting evidence. We would invite others who feel strongly on the issue to do the same."

RSPCA has been lobbying both Dover Harbour Board and Animal Health to allow inspectors into the port to monitor the wellbeing of the animals, as was the case in Ramsgate.

Following a Parliamentary Question by Dover and Deal MP, Charlie Elphicke, it was recently revealed that, of the 100 lorries to pass through Dover in 2013, all were inspected at the point of loading but none were inspected again at the port itself.

However, 39 were selected for a 'quick check' by Animal Health officials. Between May and December 2013, a total of 11 statutory notices were served by Animal Health for breaches of welfare legislation.

Last month, the director of the company at the centre of the 2012 Ramsgate incident was given a six month suspended prison sentence by magistrates in Dover and fined almost £20,000. Two French lorry drivers also implicated in the incident were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to animals in their absence.