Each year, thousands of horses are exported from Canada to Japan for slaughter, enduring long journeys by air that push the limits of animal welfare regulations. A new investigation by the Animal Justice and Life Investigation Agency (LIA) has uncovered evidence that many of these shipments violate federal laws limiting transport times for horses without food, water, and rest.

The Health of Animals Regulations in Canada set a maximum 28-hour limit for transporting horses without food, water, or rest. This duration is already considered too long by many animal welfare experts, as horses can become dehydrated after just 10-15 hours of air travel and show extreme fatigue after 28 hours of transport. Prior research shows that even trips under three hours can cause stress in horses and suppress their immune systems. 

The investigation examined four shipments of horses from Edmonton International Airport to Japan in May and June 2024. Researchers tracked the entire journey, from departure in Canada to arrival at quarantine facilities in Japan. A key finding was that it took over four additional hours after landing before horses reached the quarantine facilities where they could access food, water, and rest. In one case, horses didn’t arrive at quarantine for over 6.5 hours after landing.

When factoring in this additional time, the investigation estimates that all four observed shipments likely exceeded the 28-hour legal limit, some by several hours. The report extrapolates these findings to analyze other recent horse shipments over the past seven months using available government records. Their estimates suggest:

• 100% of shipments departing from Winnipeg exceeded the 28-hour limit by at least two hours.
• One Winnipeg shipment exceeded the limit by over six hours.
• Approximately 60% of flights from Edmonton likely exceeded the limit.

The investigation documented another troubling practice. At Kansai Airport, horses were directly sprayed with what appeared to be disinfectant as trucks entered quarantine facilities. This exposed the animals to harsh chemicals that caused pain and burning even for human observers several meters away. Some desperate horses were seen licking the disinfectant off truck netting, potentially due to lack of water. 

The report notes that spraying horses with disinfectant violates Canadian regulations prohibiting transport of animals if they are likely to suffer from exposure to toxic or noxious substances. Disinfectants can cause irritation, chemical burns, respiratory distress, and other health issues in animals.

These findings raise serious concerns about oversight and enforcement of animal transport regulations. Despite evidence of violations, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) rarely takes enforcement action. For instance, a December 2022 shipment exceeded the limit due to weather delays, resulting in three collapsed horses without CFIA intervention. Additionally, the CFIA’s calculation of transportation time ends as soon as the plane lands in Japan, not taking into account that horses endure several more hours without food, water, or rest before reaching quarantine facilities.

Industry representatives have claimed to lawmakers that horses are back on feed, water, and rest within two hours of landing. But the evidence gathered shows this is not accurate, with some shipments taking over 6 hours from landing to quarantine arrival.

The report calls for immediate action from the CFIA to:

1. Take enforcement action against companies that have exceeded the 28-hour transport limit.
2. Halt all horse exports for slaughter until the CFIA can ensure shipments reliably meet the 28-hour legal limit.
3. Revise transport duration calculations to include the full journey time from initial loading to arrival at quarantine facilities.

This investigation sheds light on a practice that is already controversial in Canada. Approximately 68% of Canadians oppose exporting horses for overseas slaughter. The Canadian government has committed to banning the practice, with two federal bills introduced to fulfill this promise. However, exports continue as lawmakers study the issue.

For animal advocates, this report provides compelling evidence to push for stronger enforcement of existing regulations and to support a full ban on live horse exports for slaughter. The documented welfare concerns and apparent legal violations offer new angles to engage policymakers and the public on this issue.