Live cattle export subsides should end

A RECENT report by the EU Commission points out that beef consumption in the union is higher than beef production for the first time in over 20 years. It is likely to stay that way until at least 2011.

Despite this under-production, the EU continues to subsidise live cattle shipments to countries outside the EU. Designed to get rid of a beef mountain that no longer exists, export refunds amount to about €200 per head and are paid from taxpayers’ money.

Compassion in World Farming believes it is wrong to subsidise a trade that inflicts great suffering on animals and which is now clearly unnecessary as all these cattle, and more, could be eaten in the EU.