The UK was at the receiving end when the European Court of Justice ruled recently that a ban on export of live sheep imposed by it on Spain, was unlawful. The Luxembourg court ruled that the UK agriculture ministry had been wrong to deny a licence to a sheep exporter stating the reasons that Spain had not properly implemented European Union rules on the humane slaughter of animals. The judges ruled that the UK was not in a position to produce any proof of breach of rules by the Spanish slaughter-house. They directed the British government to pay compensation to the exporter, Hedley Lomas.