On Tuesday, the Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development announced its decision to no longer send animals for slaughter beyond EU borders.

The decision to fully stop livestock exports will put Luxembourg in a pioneering position in the European Union.

The new regulation will come into effect on 1 March 2022.

The Ministry's decision comes after a long debate on improving standards in the agricultural sector.

Luxembourg's young farmer association "Lëtzebuerger Landjugend a Jongbaueren" filed a petition in May 2021 calling for a ban on the slaughter of Luxembourg cattle in abattoirs which are not certified to European Union standards.

Luxembourg MEP Tilly Metz also previously criticised the transportation of animals for slaughter outside of the EU, where conditions in some cases fail to protect animal welfare.