CIWF welcomes suspension of Australian exports of live animals to Egypt

followoing revelations of extreme animal cruelty

26 February 2006

The showing on Australia's TV current affairs programme '60 Minutes' of some of the most horrific cruelty ever recorded in an abattoir has led to the Australian Government suspending live animal exports to Egypt.

The initial Animals Australia investigation into a Cairo abattoir was assisted by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) and followed similar findings by CIWF during an earlier investigation.

Compassion in World Farming and its supporters around the world welcome the Australian Government's suspension of cattle exports to Egypt. This action follows years of campaigning against the plight of hundreds of thousands of cattle and millions of sheep forced to endure cramped and stressful voyages across the world from Australia to the Middle East for slaughter. Reaching their final destination they must then endure slaughterhouse practices that would not be permitted in Australia and, as in the case of Cairo, have shown to be among the worst imaginable in the world.

Following last week's plea by CIWF to the Australian Prime Minister for live animal exports to Egypt to cease, CIWF now urges Australia to end all live exports to the Middle East permanently. The animal suffering caused by the live exports trade must not be tolerated. There is no good reason why animals could not be killed in Australia where their welfare can be assured and meat exported instead.

CIWF's and Animals Australia's footage of conditions in a Cairo slaughterhouse was shown to Egypt's Veterinary Officials and slaughterhouse owners during a one-day conference on transport and slaughter in Cairo last week. The conference was attended by Egyptian animal welfare organisations, who are campaigning for Egypt to establish and enforce legislation to protect the welfare of animals, and experts in Islamic law who also condemned the cruelty.

Whilst Australia debates the future of its live exports trade there can be no excuse for continuing to send animals to any country that does not have recognised and properly enforced animal protection legislation.


For further information contact:

Kerry Burgess
on tel: +44(0)1730 237 372 or +44 (0)7787 148759

Or Laurence Stephenson
on: +44 (0) 1730 264 208 ext 236 or +44 (0)7771926005

Compassion in World Farming Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 1730 233 904
+44 (0) 7771 926 005
Fax: +44 (0) 1730 260 791
e-mail: press@ciwf.co.uk

Source: Compassion in World Farming Limited
Author: CIWF

Link: A Cruel Trade
Link: Egypt Investigation Report
Link: Export ban follows cruelty to cattle
Link: Minister Suspends Live Exports to Egypt
Link: More information - pictures


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The Jungle Revisited (en)

'For a mouthful of meat...' (en)

CIWF FILM OF HORRIFIC ABATTOIR CONDITIONS (en)