No inspections of animals are undertaken at the port of Dover before they are shipped to France for slaughter, it has been revealed.

In answer to a question by Dover MP Charlie Elphicke, David Heath, Minister of State for environment, food and rural affairs said the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency had undertaken “supervised loading inspections” for all consignments of animals exported through Dover since the trade resumed on May 2.

“Supervised loadings are inspections undertaken by AHVLA at the beginning of the journey and are intended to ensure that animals are fit to travel, the vehicle is suitable for the intended journey, and the animals are transported in conditions that are compliant with regulations,” he said.

“There are no inspections conducted at the port.

“However, currently AHVLA does undertake precautionary checks at the port. These checks include a careful visual inspection of the animals for overt welfare problems and observations of the behaviour and demeanour of the animals for indications whether there is any evidence that the animals have become unfit for the intended journey between inspection at the supervised loading and their arrival at the port.

“There is no set period of time in which these checks need to be completed.”

Mr Elphicke also asked steps were taken to ascertain whether animals exported to France for slaughter were stunned before slaughter as required by European regulations, except where the meat was destined for one of the religious communities.

Mr Heath said there are no requirements under EU or national welfare legislation to ascertain whether animals exported to other EU member states were stunned before slaughter.

He said the Food and Veterinary Office section of the EU Commission regularly audited official controls in slaughterhouses in each member state.

“Where non-compliance is discovered, they will recommend the necessary changes and will follow-up these recommendations to ensure that the necessary action is taken to improve standards,” said Mr Heath.