The RSPCA has been granted an oral hearing for its legal challenge to ban live animal exports from Ramsgate port.  The hearing will be held in open court at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on 10 May.

More than 40 animals, which were due to be exported, were slaughtered on the basis that they were lame after being unloaded from a lorry at the port on 12 September.

Last month, a judge refused the RSPCA permission to bring the case to a judicial review following consideration of court papers.

But the charity appealed the decision and has now won the right to an oral hearing, which could result in a full judicial review.

Thanet District Council lifted its temporary ban on live exports at Ramsgate in November.  The animals are transported to Calais on an open-decked, flat bottomed converted Russian tank transporter, the MV Joline.  The port was re-opened in October following legal action by Dutch exporters.

The RSPCA believes Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency is acting unlawfully by failing to require the exporters to use ports with appropriate facilities and also in failing to impose sailing restrictions on the MV Joline to ensure that animals are not injured or caused undue harm whilst being transported by sea.  The RSPCA also believes that changes to the inspection regime introduced by AHVLA following the September incident are also unlawful in failing to provide proper checks at the port to safeguard animal welfare.

RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant said: "We remain confident in the strength of our case and that we can persuade the court to grant permission for a full hearing. Our challenge to the legality of the arrangements which have put in place to regulate this trade deserves to be heard at a full hearing as the implications for animal welfare are very serious."