AHVLA has published the results of its inquiry into an incident at Ramsgate Port last September in which over 40 sheep died.

Live animal exports were suspended from Ramsgate after a fiasco on 12th September 2012, in which 44 sheep from a lorry carrying 540 animals were found to be too injured to travel onwards and were killed at the port when animals were unloaded due to a fault with the lorry. Three animals then drowned when a holding area they were standing on collapsed.

Live exports from Ramsgate had proven controversial before the incident, with RSPCA and local animal rights groups campaigning regularly against the trade. RSPCA argues that the port and single ship servicing the UK live exports trade are not fit for purpose. Nevertheless, after a short suspension and brief change of location, live animal exports from the port resumed in November.

In the meantime, following calls from local councillors and MPs, Farming Minister David Heath commissioned an AHVLA review of the incident. AHVLA looked into its overall handling of the incident (government officials from the agency as well as RSPCA inspectors were present during the events of 12th September) and its procedure for managing inspections at Ramsgate.

AVLA identified a number of areas where the agency said it could strengthen its practice. These include:

• Inspection of every consignment passing through Ramsgate;
• Tougher enforcement of welfare procedures;
• AHVLA implementing its own contingency plans in the event of an emergency if the transporter is unwilling or unable to implement their own plans within two hours;
• Improved procedures to ensure an AHVLA vet is always within an hour of the port to assist AHVLA inspectors in the event of an emergency or welfare concern;
• Working with the operator of the transport vessel to develop new contingency measures in the event of an emergency;
• Restricting changes that the transporter can make to the journey log of the delivery prior to the export. This will help maintain clear records of the animals during the journey.

Commenting on the report on Tuesday, NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said that the AHVLA response is "long overdue." He added that NFU has called for the report's release since September, and has posed over 150 questions to AHVLA on the subject.

Mr Raymond said, "The report gives an insight into the events of that day but still leaves many questions to be answered, by both AHVLA and the RSPCA, who it appears exerted significant influence over government officials on the ground."

In turn, an RSPCA spokesperson told Farming Online, "The report raises a number of serious questions as to the inspection regime undertaken by Defra's Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the adequacy of facilities at the port to cope with emergencies," and added, "There has been much misinformed comment over what happened at Ramsgate on that day, some from those seeking to defend the trade and to malign the RSPCA that opposes it."

Commenting on the incident on 12th September, and subsequent scrutiny of the day's events, RSPCA chief legal officer Ray Goodfellow said on Tuesday, "There is a clear public interest and expectation in ensuring that the welfare of animals involved in live transport is safeguarded to the full extent that the law allows. The RSPCA will campaign to end this trade. While it exists we will continue to act to safeguard the welfare of these animals and to ensure that they receive the full protection of the law."

The RSPCA successfully secured a court hearing last month for a legal challenge to live exports from Ramsgate port. The case will be heard in London in May.

Three men from France and the UK, as well as a Kent-based company, are facing charges over the incident in September.