Monday 5=
th
February 2007
PRESS RELEASE=
FROM
COMPASSION IN WORLD FARMING - IRELAND
ANIMAL WELFAR=
E GROUP
OPPOSES RESUMPTION OF LIVE CATTLE EXPORTS TO EGYPT
Compassion in World Farming - Ireland (CIWF) is appall= ed at the prospect of live cattle shipments from Ireland to Egypt resuming*. Standards of animal welfare protec= tion in Egypt are very poor and animals can be subjected to cruel treatment ther= e. Once Irish cattle leave the jurisd= iction of the EU, they are no longer protected by EU animal welfare laws.
CIWF is asking for an urgent meeting with Agriculture Minister Coughlan to discuss the very serious animal welfare problems in Egypt. CIWF is calling on the Minister to ensure that exports to Egypt are in the form of meat, not live animals.
In 2001, a veterinarian working for an animal welfare = group described the horrific treatment of cattle at one of the biggest slaughterhouses in E= gypt (Bassatin abattoir). This included the practice of cutt= ing through the hind leg tendons of cattle to disable the animals and make them easier to handle, and stabbing of the eyes to disorientate them. An investigation by Animals Austra= lia last year found that the situation at that slaughterhouse has not changed.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Again, some cattle had their hind = leg tendons mutilated and their eyes stabbed prior to slaughter.
Mary-Anne Bartlett, Director of Compassion in World
Farming - Ireland, says:
“CIWF totally opposes the resumption of live cat= tle shipments to Egypt. EU law ca= nnot protect Irish cattle once they leave the jurisdiction of the EU, and we know that animals can be treated very cruelly in Egypt. We are calling on Minister Coughla= n to do all she can to ensure that any exports to Egypt are in the form of meat,= not live animals. We have asked t= he Minister to meet with representatives of CIWF as a matter of urgency to dis= cuss our concerns.”
*It is reported that Minister for Foreign Affairs, Der= mot Ahern, announced the lifting of the ban on live cattle imports into Egypt f= rom Ireland during his visit to Egypt last week. It is reported that formal arrange= ments for the lifting of the ban will be discussed today. The ban on live cattle imports fro= m the EU, including Ireland, was put in place by Egypt in 2000 following the outb= reak of BSE.
For further information:
Please contact Mary-Anne Bartlett at 021 4639038