Live exports were resumed from the UK port of Dover in May 2013, following two years of exports from Ramsgate in Kent.
Councillors from Dover District Council opened the inquiry this month, following a proposed motion from councillor Mike Eddy, in July last year, opposing the resumption of the system, which sees animals transported to continental Europe before being slaughtered at destination.
The RSPCA which has been lobbying the Dover Harbour Board and Animal Health to allow their inspectors to investigate and monitor the wellbeing of the animals, as they did in Ramsgate, would like to see all meat transported ‘on the hook’, it said.
Proposals are now being looked at by the council’s scrutiny committee, with the inquiry set to run throughout March and April.
According to the scrutiny committee’s working programme, a number of meetings are to be held next month with the aim of gathering evidence for the review, with additional meetings planned for April.
Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover and Deal, said: "So long as these exports continue it is important that the wellbeing of the animals is fully monitored at the port. I plan to visit Animal Health myself to press the case and see things for myself, and I continue to work closely with the RSPCA to be rid of these unwanted exports."
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said Dover was the port of choice for the industry, due to it having the shortest distance across water to Europe. Live exports were temporarily moved to Ramsgate after a berth at Dover, used by animal export ship the Joline, became damaged.
"At the beginning of last year the Joline had modifications and began berthing trials at Dover, to see if it could use the dock’s ro-ro berths. After two berthing trials and some modifications, the Joline was given permission to use the Dover Eastern Port within specified weather conditions. So the trade moved back to Dover where it had been before 2011," she explained.