MEPs Anja Hazekamp and Sebastian Everding (The Left) have asked the European Commission to suspend live animal exports from the EU to conflict zones, citing severe welfare risks and health dangers. In a written parliamentary question submitted on 13 April 2026, they point to a recent ban by the German state of Lower Saxony on transporting cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs to 15 Middle Eastern countries and territories, including Israel, Yemen, and Syria, because legal welfare requirements cannot be met.
The MEPs argue that port closures, attacks on infrastructure, and delays at sea cause animals severe suffering and death, while also endangering crew members, port workers, and veterinarians. They ask the Commission three specific questions: how it monitors animal welfare on recent shipments to conflict zones; whether it acknowledges that Member States must immediately suspend such exports to unstable regions; and whether it will adopt a delegated act listing non-EU countries to which live animal exports are banned for welfare reasons.
This parliamentary question reflects a push for stronger EU-level action on animal welfare during transport, particularly in high-risk areas. The Commission is expected to respond within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal whether it supports a harmonised ban or prefers Member State-level measures. The MEPs' initiative could increase regulatory pressure on the EU livestock export sector, potentially affecting trade flows and imposing new compliance costs on exporters, while offering greater protection for animals and workers in conflict zones.
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