NEWS RELEASE

The ApHC UK would like to bring this matter to the urgent attention of all our members.  Please support the campaign and Say NO to live exports by signing the ILPH petition

Say NO to Live Exports - Next Stage of Campaign

Tim Stockdale, international show jumper, is to add his name to the growing list of top riders who are endorsing the ILPH Say NO to Live Exports Campaign.

Tim launched the start of the ILPH hard copy petition at the British Equine Event held at Stoneleigh over the weekend of 1st and 2nd November.

Tim says, "Every horse and pony should be put down in its own country. It's wrong that any of them, whether in mainland Europe or the UK, should have to travel to a foreign abattoir hundreds, possibly thousands, of miles away.

"I urge everybody who is worried that this live export trade could resume, to support the ILPH campaign before it's too late."

Those who cannot add their name to the current online petition at www.ilph.org can call 0870 906 1927 for a Say NO to Live Exports campaign pack which will include a petition as well as a copy of a letter to send to Secretary of State Margaret Beckett.

Editor's Note

The ILPH was instrumental in the ending of the live exports of horses and ponies for slaughter when in 1937 The Exportation of Horses Act, drafted by ILPH Director , Sir George Cockerill MP, received Royal Assent and became legislation. This Act established the principle of the Minimum Values legislation, as we know it today, which effectively stopped the export to mainland Europe of horses, ponies or donkeys under a certain value.  As this value was set above meat value the export for slaughter trade stopped from that date. Over the years the values have been reviewed and DEFRA to this day continues to enforce the order.  In 1991 there was a EU derogation allowing member states to have their own legislation on the export of horses and ponies. In 1995 when the new Directive on the transportation of animals came into effect that derogation was lost.  Since then, the ILPH has been concerned that Minimum Values, if legally challenged, could be seen to be untenable because it contravened the free trade between member states.  Because of this they have chosen to keep quiet on the subject publicly, knowing that DEFRA was enforcing Minimum Values, but continuing to work behind the scenes with the EC and DEFRA towards their eventual goal of stopping the trade altogether and seeing the introduction of home country slaughter in all member states. This would then negate the need for Minimum Values.

Since the publication of the new EU draft Regulation on the Transportation of Animals there has been growing public concern about the fact that the export of British horses and ponies for slaughter could recommence. Now that the issue is in the public domain, the ILPH feels that the time is right to add public pressure to the work they have been doing with the EC and DEFRA to protect British horses and ponies from being exported live for slaughter ever again.

For further information please contact: Lynda Freebrey, Press Officer, on 0870 366 6948 or visit our website on www.ilph.org

PS  The number of people signing the petition has now exceeded 23,000.  Don't delay add your signature as soon as possible.