PAN spokesperson Ines de Sousa Real this Friday called for an end to the transport of live animals by sea, deeming it essential that Portugal follows the example of countries such as the UK, which have banned this activity.
“It is very important that citizens understand the importance of ending the transport of live animals by sea, as the UK has already done,” Ines de Souza Real told Lusa.
According to the leader of the People-Animals-Nature party, who spoke to Lusa during a protest in Sines, Setubal district, against the transport of live animals by sea, “political will” is needed to abolish this activity. in national ports.
“Political will, because if from an economic point of view it is no longer profitable for the producers themselves to ship live animals, we want the state to support the transition to this activity and guarantee transport in carcasses,” he said.
The initiative was promoted by PATAV – Platform Against the Transport of Live Animals in Sines, as part of the International Day against the Transport of Live Animals.
According to Ines de Sousa Real, Portugal “is the second country in the ‘ranking’ of countries exporting live animals to third countries” and therefore “this reconversion is urgently needed.”
“According to DGAV, we already have [Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária]An average of 58 boats are sent annually, with each boat holding 30,000 animals,” meaning “over a million animals shipped” for export.
However, according to Souza Real, “today PAN entered into [na Assembleia da República] initiative that once again calls for an end to the transport of live animals and establishes a moratorium so that in a year the cessation of this activity will take effect in Portugal.”
“On the other hand, the government should set up a Helpline to enable slaughter on site, on farm or at nearby abattoirs, and introduce cold transport chains instead of transporting live animals,” he added.
According to the PAN leader, “this transformation is urgently needed in our country and in the European Union, because only in this way can we reduce the completely unjustified suffering of animals.”
In Luz, PATAV’s Isabelle Carmo said there is an urgent need to stop the export of live animals through the ports of Sines and Setubal to countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and referred to a petition that the platform launched in February this year. year to cancel this activity.
The petition demands that “the Assembly of the Republic pass a law to abolish the export of live animals by sea from Portugal to countries outside the European Union.”
“These shipments are full of violations and even illegal acts because the people who transport the animals do not comply with the current legislation, which is a community right and has been transferred to member states, resulting in the animals becoming victims of violence,” he said. stated.
During the action, the PATAV activist also expressed regret that the Ministry of Environment rejected the request for a meeting to resolve these issues, and this Friday the platform sent a “letter of protest” “warning of this situation”, which is considering it.” ashamed”.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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