About the Windsor Framework

Post Brexit, under the previous agreement, pet owners were required to comply with EU pet travel rules when travelling with their pets. Now, owners only need to confirm that their pets:

  • Are microchipped.
  • Will not be moved into the EU.
     

Challenges in animal welfare

However, the Windsor Framework has also impeded progress in several important animal welfare areas:
 

The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill

This bill, designed to prevent cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses from being transported from Great Britain to the continent for fattening and slaughter, does not extend to Northern Ireland. Westminster has justified this exclusion to maintain Northern Ireland farmers' access to markets in both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

As a result, approximately 20,000 unweaned calves continue to be exported annually from Northern Ireland to mainland Europe. These animals endure:

  • Long journeys of up to three days in cramped, stressful conditions.
  • Further transportation to destinations like Lebanon, Turkey, and Algeria, where slaughter practices often breach the World Organisation for Animal Health’s international standards.

The USPCA believes this practice must be urgently addressed to protect the welfare of these young animals.
 

Veterinary Medicines

The Windsor Framework does not currently include a new agreement on veterinary medicines. While a grace period is in place until the end of 2025, this delay highlights the need for a long-term solution to ensure:

  • Access to essential veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland after 2025.
  • Streamlined regulations to minimise the need for veterinary intervention during the movement of animals and goods across the Irish Sea.

Given the ongoing workforce shortages in the veterinary profession, these measures are critical to maintaining high welfare standards for animals in Northern Ireland.

The USPCA calls for the government and stakeholders to:

  • Extend the live export ban to Northern Ireland, ensuring farmed animals here are protected from inhumane practices.
  • Promote closer collaboration between Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the EU on animal welfare issues to ensure the highest level of legal protection for animals.
  • Implement regulations that reduce the need for vet intervention during animal transportation and secure long-term access to veterinary medicines beyond 2025.

The USPCA remains committed to advocating for these changes to safeguard the welfare of all animals in Northern Ireland. Together, we can build a future where animal welfare is a priority in every policy and trade agreement.