The Government has today (Wednesday) published an action plan for animal welfare designed to revolutionise the treatment of animals in the UK and introduce measures to protect the welfare of animals abroad.
Now that we have left the EU, the UK has new freedoms to further strengthen animal welfare standards and reinforce its position as a global champion of animal rights, Defra says.
The Action Plan for Animal Welfare, launched today by Environment Secretary George Eustice, will build on our existing world-leading standards by recognising animals as sentient in law and committing to a range of new ‘game-changing’ welfare measures to protect pets, livestock and wild animals.
During a visit to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the Environment Secretary said the Government would take a significant step forwards on animal welfare by formally recognising animals as sentient beings through a new Animal Sentience Bill that will be introduced to Parliament tomorrow (May 13), putting animal welfare at the very heart of government policy decision making.
PUPPY SMUGGLING
Launching the plan, George Eustice said: “We are a nation of animal lovers and were the first country in the world to pass animal welfare laws.
“Our Action Plan for Animal Welfare will deliver on our manifesto commitment to ban the export of live animal exports for slaughter and fattening, prohibit keeping primates as pets and bring in new laws to tackle puppy smuggling.
“We will lead on the protection of animals abroad by implementing the world’s toughest ivory ban and banning the import of hunting trophies to protect iconic species. As an independent nation we are now able to go further than ever to build on our excellent track record.”
The Action Plan for Animal Welfare also sets out how the Government will:
Improve welfare for pets by:
> tackling puppy smuggling through changes to import rules
> introducing compulsory microchipping for cats
> cracking down on pet theft through a new government taskforce
> banning remote controlled training e-collars.
Protect wild animals by:
> making it illegal to keep primates as pets
> introducing new laws to crack down on illegal hare coursing
> supporting legislation to restrict the use of glue traps
> funding wildlife conservation projects both at home abroad.
Protect animals abroad by:
> banning the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals
> banning the sale of ivory by implementing the Ivory Act this year
> prohibiting the import and export of detached shark fins to protect the iconic shark species
> exploring a ban on the sale of foie gras
> banning the advertisement in this country of ‘unacceptable low-welfare’ animal practices abroad – such as elephant rides.
Improve welfare for farmed animals by:
> ending the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter
> introducing new measures to improve welfare during transport
> giving the police more powers to protect farm animals from dangerous or out of control dogs
> examining the use of cages for poultry and farrowing crates for pigs
> improving animal welfare at slaughter
> incentivising farmers to improve animal health and welfare through future farming policy.
ANIMAL SENTIENCE
To deliver these reforms, the Government will be introducing a series of Bills in due course focusing on animal sentience, kept animals here in the UK and the welfare of animals. There will also be a series of non-legislative changes to promote animal welfare over the coming months, with a number of regulations due to be brought forward as early as this year.
The Government says it will also ensure that animal welfare is not compromised in all future trade negotiations.
The UK has a world-leading record on animal welfare, and over the last decade the Government has introduced a range measures, including banning the use of battery cages for laying hens, introducing compulsory CCTV in slaughter houses and raising the maximum sentence for animal cruelty from six months to five years.
Chris Sherwood said, Chief Executive of the RSPCA said: “These announcements will make a real and lasting difference to animals’ welfare, so we’re pleased the Government is committed to improving animals’ lives in the UK and abroad. We can no longer ignore the inextricable link that exists between the way we treat animals, our own health and that of the planet – but to really achieve a step change, it will take courage from right across Government.
WELFARE STRATEGY
“We urge the government to put animal welfare at the heart of policy making and make these announcements just the beginning of an evolving, holistic animal health and welfare strategy.”
Peter Laurie, chief executive of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, added: “Battersea very much welcomes the new Action Plan for Animal Welfare. Every dog and cat deserves to be safe from harm and this means clamping down on those trading animals illegally and in poor welfare conditions, being proactive to protect owners from the devastation of having their pet lost or stolen, and doing everything we can to reunite them.
“Our pets are not only sentient beings, but much-loved family members and we support any measures that will protect them from unnecessary suffering, and reassure dog and cat owners, both now and in the future.”
