COMMENTING on UK government plans to ban all live exports of livestock, Scotland’s Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: ‘The UK government appears to be ready to ban all live exports of livestock.
‘So let me be absolutely clear: this is one UK-wide framework the Scottish government will not be participating in. I will not support anything that creates further challenges or difficulty for our farming sector or puts Scottish agriculture at a disadvantage.
‘Any such move would potentially do substantial harm to our quality livestock sector, not least farming in the Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney, as well as trade with Northern Ireland. ‘The Scottish government, therefore, will not support the banning of live exports of livestock, but will remain committed to the welfare of all animals during transport adhering to the current rigorous standards which apply – standards and regulations provided by the EU, that are already world class and protect us all through animal, plant and chemical health measures and enabling our produce to be traded around the world.’