UK Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Michael Gove has said he is considering a ban on the export of livestock in order to ensure higher welfare standards for live animal movement.

Gove said of the announcement: “All animals deserve to get the respect and care they deserve at every stage of their lives. This call for evidence begins to deliver on our manifesto commitment which aims to control the export of live animals for slaughter once we leave the European unio (EU).

“With all options being considered, I am keen to hear from industry, the devolved authorities and charities on all possible options and evidence on this vital issue.”

The call for evidence will last for six weeks and will seek opinions from across industry on how the government could improve standards of animal welfare during transport after the UK leaves the EU.

The Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) has also launched a review into the existing welfare standards for animals during transport, and it is being complemented by research commissioned by the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) from Scotland’s Rural College and the University of Edinburgh.

FAWC offers advice to Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales on the welfare of farmed animals.

"With all options being considered, I am keen to hear from industry, the devolved authorities and charities on all possible options and evidence on this vital issue."

British Veterinary Association president John Fishwick said: “BVA welcomes the launch of the government’s call for evidence on live animal exports.

“We believe that production animals should not be transported long distances to the abattoir but should be slaughtered as near to the point of production as possible. Animals should be transported on the hook, as meat, not on the hoof, as live animals.

“It is vital that we maintain the UK’s current high standards of animal welfare post-Brexit and seek opportunities to improve them. We look forward to contributing to this call and seeing the results once the evidence has been collected.”

The shadow environmental secretary Sue Hayman criticised the proposal, commenting that the Labour Party has a much more comprehensive 50-point plan to end live animal exports, inhumane slaughter practices, and fattening.

She said: “This weak announcement only amounts to a call for evidence and is just the latest in a string of desperate attempts by the Tories to portray themselves as animal-friendly. Over the last year the Tories have supported a free vote on bringing back fox hunting and overseen the largest number of badgers culled across England on record.”