The district council will step up measures to protect live animals being exported from the Port of Dover, it was agreed last night.

It comes after an inquiry into live animal exports from the Port of Dover was launched by Dover District Council’s Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee in 2014.

The inquiry was sparked by a motion calling on the council to oppose live farm animal exports to the continent from the Port of Dover and to lobby Dover Harbour Board to grant RSPCA inspectors access to the port during shipments.

The final report was discussed at a full council meeting in Whitfield, yesterday. The decision by members was almost unanimous with only Cllr Bob Frost abstaining from the vote.

To ensure the heath and welfare of animals when in transport is paramount, the council will write to the different Secretary of States for Transport and Environment, Food and Rurals Areas asking for an amendment to the Harbour, Docks and Piers Clause 1847.

The letter will request the act is changed to state that: “the word ‘goods’ shall include wares and merchandise of every description, except animals,” and also underline how the port has the direction to refuse use of the port for the purpose of exporting live animals for slaughter.

The council say it supports RSPCA inspectors being granted access with the agreement and under the supervision of officers from the Animal and Plant Health Agency at all ports, not just Dover, involving the export of live animals.

The committee will also urge the European and British authorities to better enforce existing regulations relating to the transport of animals.

Cllr Jim Hood moved the recommendation. He said: “Live exporting is a legal trade, we cannot stop it, but we might be able to influence people to do something about it.”

Cllr Mike Eddy said: “The act is 150 years old. Our attitude to animals and how we treat them has changed considerably since then. The government needs to take that on board.”

Although the trade is currently happening through Ramsgate, the Port of Dover is the industry’s preferred location for exporting farm animals due to the shorter sea distance.

This trade involves tens of thousands of animals, such as sheep and calves, being exported for hours or even days - in some cases only to be slaughtered at their destination.

Cllr Bob Frost told the Mercury he abstained rather than voted against the recommendations on the grounds that what they proposed would make the suffering of animals worse.

He said: “Were we to ban animals going on the shorter UK sea crossings, even more than the present 170,000 a year would go on the 15 hour plus crossing from Southern Ireland, therefore increasing the suffering. I support your intentions but it is not going to have the results you wish.”