The British Horse Society (BHS) is demanding that the Government gives assurance on the retention of the 'minimum values' clause when equines are exported. Recent articles in the equestrian press and other periodicals have given rise to fears over the reinstatement of live animal exports, leading to horror stories of cruelty for horses and ponies being transported abroad for slaughter.

Following the European Commission's proposal, published on 16 July this year, to update the current Animal Transport Directive, The British Horse Society has been lobbying Defra hard to ensure that the 'minimum values' clause will be retained in Britain. The BHS has campaigned tirelessly, and fully supports the ILPH campaign, for the enforcement and retention of 'minimum values', whereby equines being exported must be of a minimum value, thus helping to prevent the export of horses and ponies for slaughter by rendering it uneconomic to do so.

The BHS will continue to lobby the Government until it is satisfied that the 'minimum value' clause is to be retained permanently. The Society will also continue to liaise with ILPH and other equine welfare organisations on working towards acceptable welfare standards when transporting horses, whether in the UK or abroad, for slaughter or for other purposes.

BHS chief executive Kay Driver said, "If the ponies are not protected, as now, we shall see truckloads of terrified animals leaving our ports, undergoing horrifying journeys and ending up goodness knows where for slaughter."

Mrs Pat Campbell, Chairman of the BHS, added, "The Society has received a number of calls from concerned members over this issue. We want to assure them that the BHS will do everything in its power to ensure that the welfare of the transported animal is given serious consideration, and that the minimum values clause remains."

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