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Top livestock haulier fights livestock ban

9th February 1995
Page 6
Page 6, 9th February 1995 — Top livestock haulier fights livestock ban
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

by Guy Sheppard

• The owner of Britain's largest international livestock transport business is fighting to overturn the two month ban by the UK's main exit point for exporting live animals for slaughter.

Peter Gilder says his weekly turnover has slumped by more than 90% since 1 December when Dover Harbour Board imposed a ban on trucks attempting to deliver animals destined for slaughter on the Continent.

The High Court has now granted him permission to seek a judicial review of the ban, probably on March 16 or 17. The court decided there was an arguable case that the ban was unlawful after hearing claims that it contravened European legislation and was driving Gilder out of business.

The Board says the ban was imposed because of fears that disruption caused by animal welfare demonstrations could damage the port's overall business.

Until the ban Dover was the UK's main livestock port to the Continent, handling up to a dozen livestock trucks a day.

7 The Government is to press for tougher controls on livestock exports at a meeting of European agriculture ministers on 20 February.

Maximum journey times between lairages where animals can be fed and watered vary throughout the EU. An agreement on maximum journey times would lead ferry companies to lift their sevenmonth ban on livestock for slaughter.

Agriculture minister William Waldegrave has not suggested a figure for a European limit but last month the 15hour limit on UK hauliers was reinforced with the introduction of £1,000 fines per animal carried over the limit (CM 22 December-4 January 1995).

Germany is pressing for an eight-hour limit: it plans to impose this unilaterally if the meeting does not reach agreement.


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