Thank you for contacting me about the Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare.
My ministerial colleagues and I share your high regard for animal welfare. In May 2021, the Government set out a series of ambitious reforms in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare. Since 2010, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has had a strong track record in delivering reforms and passing legislation. This includes banning the use of conventional battery cages for laying hens, making CCTV mandatory in slaughterhouses across England, banning the use of wild animals in circuses and introducing the strongest ivory ban in the world. Other measures introduced include the mandatory microchipping of dogs in 2015 and the modernisation of the licensing system for dog breeding and pet sales. The Government has also announced a new requirement for the compulsory microchipping of cats.
In 2021, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act came into force, raising the maximum sentence for animal cruelty from 6 months to 5 years.
The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act formally recognises animals as sentient beings in domestic law and establishes the Animal Sentience Committee, which is made up of animal experts from within the field. This is to ensure that animal sentience is considered when developing policy across Government.
Further, the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill will bring in some of the world’s strongest protections for pets, livestock and kept wild animals. This includes introducing a ban on keeping primates as pets, banning the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening, and also addresses the unethical trade of puppy smuggling by reducing the number of pets that can travel under pet travel rules.
Ministers recognise the concerns related to foie gras and the Government has been looking at the advertising and offering for sale of unacceptably low welfare activities using force-feeding practices. The Government has been considering potential action in relation to animal fur, as set out in the Action Plan and carried out a call for evidence on the fur sector in 2021.
Regarding cages, I am aware that the Government is committed to exploring the phasing out of cages, supporting the industry to do so in a way that underpins the UK’s food production and does not have any unintended animal welfare or business impacts.
Finally, the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill will ban the import of hunting trophies for specific species. The Bill includes a power to add or remove species from the scope of the ban which will allow the Bill to remain comprehensive and achieve its aims. This will be one of the toughest bans in the world and will protect endangered animals and help to strengthen and support long-term conservation.
I am very keen to see the Animal Welfare Bill progress through Parliament. It promises to bring in some of the world’s strongest protections for pets, livestock and kept wild animals. I am working with The Wildheart Trust which is, among other things, seeking an amendment to the Bill to include the banning of breeding exotic felids with domestic cats.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.