Bucharest, 3 December 2019 - Following the tragic ship accident with over 14,000 live sheep on board, the Romanian government is taking the first appropriate actions to suspend live exports to other countries. The organisation FOUR PAWS met with other animal welfare organisations as well as Romania's Minister of Agriculture Adrian Oros, who spoke out in favour of suspending live exports to third countries.
Last month a Romanian Ship destined for Saudia Arabia capsized in Constanta resulting in the death of thousands of sheep.
FOUR PAWS, who continue to fight for safe shelter for surviving sheep welcomed the decision calling it a step in the right direction.
They called on all EU member states for an end to all existing agreements on export and to introduce a maximum transport time of eight hours.
In the medium term, frozen meat is to be exported instead.
During the rescue operation, they were only able to recover 254 sheep of which over 70 had since died from serious injuries.
Veterinarians from the Romanian Vet Office are currently treating the remaining sheep on a farm. Their future remains uncertain. FOUR PAWS keeps fighting for the safe housing and protection of the animals.
With 12 million animals, Romania is the largest sheep and goat producer in the EU after Great Britain and Spain. Yearly, around 2.4 million of these animals get exported - many of them to the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf region. Time and time again countless animals die in agony on these transports.
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