In a major victory for animals, Brittany Ferries has confirmed it will end the transport of all live farmed animals, including unweaned calves, from Ireland to France on its ships from September 2026 at the latest.

The decision follows a sustained international campaign led by several NGOs including Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), Ethical Farming Ireland, WELFARM, FOUR PAWS, L214, Eyes on Animals, Eurogroup for Animals, Southampton Animal Action and Dorset Animal Action.

In a decision which provoked international outcry, Brittany Ferries restarted transporting live animals in March 2025 after a 30-year pause. In response, CIWF and partner NGOs in France, the UK and Ireland mobilised European citizens and more than 100,000 emails were sent to the company. Two petitions obtained over 100,000 signatures. In addition, regular demonstrations were held in Ireland, France and the UK over the past year. A joint social media storm also drew their customers’ attention to this cruel policy change across the company’s social media channels in the UK, France, Spain and Poland. Brittany Ferries’ Trustpilot page was temporarily taken down as a direct result of the action.

This resulted in four meetings with the company and NGOs – in which advocates called for an immediate end to the practice of transporting unweaned calves and all other animals.

By the time the ships reach France on these journeys, unweaned calves have gone for over 18 hours without food. This is in breach of EU animal welfare law. Many calves are transported onwards to other countries including the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland.

In a survey released in January, 82% of EU citizens expressed concern about the transport of very young and unweaned animals, with only 22% convinced that current protections were adequate. The export of live animals for fattening and slaughter was banned in Great Britain in 2024, on the grounds of cruelty.

Brittany Ferries’ withdrawal from this trade makes Irish Ferries an outlier, as the only carrier to continue the cruel practice of transporting unweaned calves from Ireland to France, since Stena Line withdrew from the Ireland to France route last year. Pressure is now mounting on Irish Ferries to follow suit.

Charlotte Reid, Deputy Director of Global Campaigns, said:

This is a landmark victory for animals. After months of campaigning by NGOs, with the support of hundreds of thousands of supporters across Europe, Brittany Ferries has finally listened.

Animals are not cargo and they should not be forced to suffer on these gruelling, stressful journeys.

We won't stop campaigning until this cruel, unnecessary practice has been completely consigned to the history books. Irish Ferries is now the only operator continuing the trade from Ireland to France, and we're calling on them to urgently follow suit and end the live transport of animals.

Caroline Rowley, Executive Director for Ethical Farming Ireland, said:

Brittany Ferries started transporting unweaned calves from Ireland last year in the full knowledge that they could not be fed during the 18-hour ferry journey to France, which is not only cruel, it is in breach of EU legislation.

After over a year of campaigning we are delighted that the CEO has finally made the principled choice to stop all involvement in this trade. Irish Ferries is now the only ferry company profiting from animal cruelty and suffering.

Corinna Reinisch, Animal Welfare Issue Navigator for big cats, bears and farmed animals at FOUR PAWS, said:

With one less ferry company transporting live animals, this is a major victory for animal welfare in Europe. By choosing to opt out of this practice, Brittany Ferries put animal welfare over profit.

While we celebrate this development, it must also be seen as a wakeup call for others. Both the European Union and private companies must follow along. EU decision makers must realise that transporting live animals by sea is an outdated practice that causes unnecessary animal suffering.

Brigitte Gothière, Executive Director at L214 said:

This is a historic victory that marks a decisive step towards ending this shameful trade. L214 and European NGOs will remain fully mobilised to ensure that no unweaned calf is ever transported across the English Channel again.

Cat Phipps, from Southampton Animal Action, said:

This is great news for the animals and for the community of protesters who have been present at Portsmouth Port for over a year. This trade is unacceptable and we know from meeting their customers that they think this too.

The EU is currently reviewing its 20-year-old Transport Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, detailing the block’s rules governing the welfare of animals during transport. While better enforcement of current rules is needed, CIWF urges European lawmakers to speed up negotiations to achieve an ambitious revision that ensures the highest welfare standards for animals during transport and a ban on the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening.

Major victory for animals as Brittany Ferries ends live transport