The animal welfare charity this week published the results of a survey which suggests two thirds of the British public are "appalled" that live farm animals are transported long distances to the continent for slaughter. The charity said that the majority of those questioned (69 per cent) believed animals should be slaughtered in their country of origin, and then their meat transported for sale elsewhere.

On Thursday RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming and Kent Action Against Live Exports held a demonstration against live exports in London. The groups are calling for immediate action to end the cruel and unnecessary trade in live farm animals.

The campaign groups are asking Defra ministers to:

• work with the industry to move to an alternative trade in meat;
• implement 100 per cent checks at the port;
• amend the 1847 Ports Act so ports can choose to reject the trade.

The trade returned to Dover Port in Kent in May last year. Upon the exporters' return, the port authorities pointed out that the live export trade is legal, and as such they are obliged to facilitate it, adding that the 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."     

Even so, Eloise Shavelar, RSPCA's farm animal campaign manager, said on Thursday, "Despite over 20 years of tireless campaigning against this trade, tens of thousands of farm animals are still being exported to the continent for further fattening and slaughter each year.

"These long journeys have been shown to cause unnecessary suffering to animals such as calves and sheep. It's time this cruel trade ended once and for all and Britain moved to an alternative trade in meat."

The NFU has supported the trade, which remains legal, and said it sees no problem in the "legal, legitimate and valuable" option for farmers.  

Due to EU trade rules, the government is unable to ban live exports directly. However, according to the campaigners, Defra has stated that it would prefer to see a trade in meat.

The charities opposing live exports said they have concerns that existing welfare regulations, in place to protect animals during transport, aren't being enforced.