EU accused of complicity in mistreatment of live exports

Compassion in World Farming has accused the European Union of complicity in the mistreatment of livestock exported to the Middle East.

The organisation claims to have documentary evidence proving the ill-treatment of livestock in transit and on arrival in non-EU states.

It is due to present the evidence to members of the European Parliament in Brussels later today.

Speaking ahead of the presentation, spokesperson Mary-Anne Bartlett said EU taxpayers were unwittingly subsidising such cruelty.

"Every animal that goes out receives a subsidy of around €200 per head," she said.