Thank you to those contacting me about Animal Welfare. A million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction and biodiversity is declining faster now than at any previous time in human history. The world is at risk of irreversible damage.
Over many years, I have been a strong advocate for the protection of animals and have authored and signed multiple Early Day Motions calling on the Government to enshrine in law greater protection for wildlife.
Below is a collection of responses to important topics:
Action Plan for Animal Welfare:
In May 2021, the Government set out a highly ambitious plan in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare (APAW). This included action to enshrine animal-free research.
In 2021, the APAW came into force. This rightly codified animals' status as sentient beings into law, ensuring that animal sentience is considered when the Government is creating policy. It also increased the prison sentence for animal abuse from six months to five years.
I welcome the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act, which has completed its passage into law, which further enshrines recognition of animal sentience in domestic law, and establish an expert-led Animal Sentience Committee, which will produce reports on the impact of policy decisions on animal welfare.
I share the Conservatives' commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare and hope that you do too.
Live Exports Ban:
I have consistently called upon the Government to strengthen domestic animal welfare protection for kept animals by delivering upon our manifesto commitments to end the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter. For almost fifty years now, I have pleaded for the Government to do the right thing and end these cruel, stressful and unnecessary live export journeys. We must ensure that animals are slaughtered domestically, in line with the high welfare standards of UK abattoirs.
Up to 40 million farm animals, including sheep, calves and pigs, have been exported from Britain for further rearing or slaughter since the 1960s - equating to thousands every single week, or dozens every hour.
I have joined leading campaigners from Compassion in World Farming (Compassion) and other animal protection NGOs in calling upon the government to pass legislation that will ban live experts from Great Britain as well as covering other provisions that were in the Kept Animals Bill.
I was pleased to see that the Government upheld its commitment to animal welfare with the announcement of the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill in the King's Speech earlier this year. The bill seeks to ban the live export of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses for slaughter and fattening.
Whilst we know there are currently no live exports going from Great Britain for slaughter or fattening, we are also aware this cruel trade could resume at any time if a legal ban is not introduced. It is a longstanding issue and it will not disappear fully without necessary legislation.
We share in delight to see the legislation has now passed its Third Reading in the House of Lords and will now go to Royal Assent.
This is a very important action in ending these cruel, stressful and unnecessary live export journeys. Campaigning does work. Cross-party efforts are the most effective.
Trophy Hunting Bill:
I am proud that the UK has consistently led the way on animal welfare, and it is right that we cement our status as a global leader by continuing to raise the bar.
John Speller MP knows that I fully support the aims of his Private Member’s Bill, 'Trophy Hunting [Imports Prohibition] Bill'.
Over many years, I have been a strong advocate for the protection of animals and have authored and signed multiple Early Day Motions calling on the Government to enshrine in law greater protection for wildlife.
I previously co-authored an open letter in The Times, calling on the government to move ahead with its proposed ban as a matter of urgency.
More recently, I signed a joint letter to the Prime Minister urging him to introduce a Government bill to ensure that the ban on trophy hunting imports becomes a reality before it is too late.
Ministers previously supported the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill put forwards as a Private Member’s Bill in June 2022. The bill had overwhelming support from MPs and the public, and it was therefore disappointing that despite such strong endorsement, the bill failed to progress as a result of House of Lords delaying tactics. Further work is necessary and I have confidence that both houses will support the Bill in becoming law.
My request to would-be trophy hunters: please replace your gun with a camera.
Simply put, shoot the best picture you can, leave the animal alive.
My request to the Government: do what is necessary to protect these animals before it is too late.
Caged Hens:
The Action Plan for Animal Welfare (APAW) includes greater protections for the welfare of farmed animals, including hens.
Around 60 per cent of our hens are now kept in free-range systems, and a number of major supermarkets have pledged to stop selling eggs from the remaining 40 per cent of hens in cages by 2025.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has a statutory code for hen welfare, and ministers are considering different cage systems that are used in the UK and abroad.
Any decision on cage reform will take time. There must be considerations for the full implications on animal welfare balanced with industry concerns, followed by a phase-out period to secure realistic animal welfare results and industry sustainability.
Fur and Fois Gras:
The government is aware of the welfare concerns over foie gras, and Ministers are currently committed to building an evidence base to develop future policy. Please be assured that the policies set out in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare are being considered.
Ministers are similarly working on gaining evidence to develop further policy on fur sale and the use of faux fur.
The UK banned fur farming in 2003, and I am pleased to see that the majority of UK retailers have stopped selling real fur. The UK government is also committed to ensuring that all fur sold in the UK is labelled correctly so that consumers can make an informed choice.
I attend events in Parliament, particularly those organized by Fur Free Britain, in support of their work to develop further policy.
Following concerns from constituents regarding the delay in the release of the findings from the Government consultation on a proposed ban on the sale and importing of fur, I wrote to the Department for Environment, Food and Affairs. In the response I received from Lord Douglas-Miller, the Minister for Biosecurity, Animal Health and Welfare, the delay in publishing the replies to the consultation was acknowledged, and the Minister informed me that a summary of the consultation findings would be published in due course.
I am pleased that the Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to building its understanding of the fur sector. As a demonstration of this, the Animal Welfare Committee has been commissioned to investigate what constitutes responsible sourcing of fur.
Farmed Fish Welfare:
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any protected animal, or to fail to provide for the welfare needs of an animal, including fish. Regulations also require that farmed fish are spared avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations.
The government is currently investigating options for further regulations for fish protection. The Action Plan for Animal Welfare is in progress and there will be an update in March from the Animal Welfare Committee over what further steps need to be taken.
I am aware that Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing requires that farmed fish are spared avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations but does not include any further requirements. The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 makes it an offence for any person engaged in the restraint, stunning or killing of an invertebrate to cause avoidable pain, distress or suffering.
As part of the Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare, Ministers have been considering improvements that could be made to the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing and asked the Animal Welfare Committee for advice on the killing of farmed fish. The committee has updated its advice from 2014 and I am assured that the Government will study their recommendations carefully to determine possible next steps, including those around the stunning of farming fish.
I have written to the Secretary of State for DEFRA requesting an urgent review of the latest report by the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) in relation to farmed fish welfare. A response will be shared to my website when available: https://www.sirpeterbottomley.com/campaigns/animal-welfare
The Use of Snares:
I am aware that laws are in place around the use of snares to protect wildlife. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that it is illegal to set in position any trap or snare calculated to cause bodily injury to certain wild animals, including badgers, otters, red squirrels, and hedgehogs.
The Deer Act 1991 makes it an offence to set in position any trap or snare calculated to cause bodily injury to any deer coming into contact with it, or to use any trap or snare for the purpose of killing, taking or restraining such an animal. Snares which have been set in position must be inspected once a day. The use of a self-locking snare is illegal, and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 prohibits causing any unnecessary suffering to any animal.
While laws are in place, my ministerial colleagues recognise that there have been cases of snares being used indiscriminately and not being checked, and the code of practice not being followed. Penalties are in place when the law is not followed, including an unlimited fine or a custodial sentence. Anyone who suspects that snares have not been used properly should contact the police.
Puppy Smuggling:
As a strong advocate for animal welfare, I was pleased to see that in May 2022 the Government reiterated its commitment to cracking down on puppy smuggling, by banning the importing of young or heavily pregnant dogs, as well as dogs with mutilations, such as cropped ears or mutilated tails.
Although the Kept Animals Bill failed to pass through the House of Commons, The Government has signalled that it will seek to pass measures found in the bill as individual pieces of legislation. I am aware that when parliamentary time allows, the Government will support legislation prohibiting puppy smuggling.
I fully support the aims of The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, which seeks to tackle the unlawful dog, cat, and ferret smuggling trade, by introducing stringent measures to regulate the import of the titled pets, ensuring their health and safety during transportation and deterring illegal trade practices.
The 2006 Animal Welfare Act made the cropping of a dog’s ears a criminal offence, and in 2021 the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act increased the maximum sentence for those found guilty of the practice from 12 months to 5 years and a fine.
However, there remains much to be done to prevent the continuation of this abhorrent practice. The importation of dogs with non-exempted mutilations such as cropped ears or docked tails is still allowed under the current pet travel rules. I am aware that my ministerial colleagues would support legislation to ban the import of dogs with mutilations as a single-issue Bill.
Preventing Cat Theft:
Britain is a nation of pet lovers and in 2021, the Government set up the Pet Theft Taskforce to investigate concerns about a perceived increase in pet theft. This task force gathered, researched, and commissioned work to build a clear evidence base of the issue and worked with police, law enforcement, and experts to formulate recommendations.
Since the publication of the report, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice have been working on implementing the task force’s recommendations.
The Kept Animals Bill made provisions for the introduction of a new criminal offence for pet abduction. I welcome the fact that although the bill was dropped, the Government has announced that various measures in the Kept Animals Bill will be put to Parliament as individual bills.
Following multiple correspondence from constituents who requested that cats be included in the offence of pet abduction, I wrote to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the matter.
I was pleased that in December 2023 I received a response from Lord Douglas-Miller, the Minister for Biosecurity, Animal Health and Welfare, which outlined how the Government has introduced legislation seeking to extend the compulsory microchipping of cats in England from June 2024. Once implemented, this measure will increase the likelihood that lost or stolen pet cats will be reunited with their owner, thereby benefiting the welfare of cats.
Fox Hunting Ban:
Some have been in touch regarding Fox Hunting. I appreciate that this issue is highly emotive and I share concern for the welfare of our nation's countryside wildlife.
The Hunting Act 2004 makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions in the Act. Those found guilty under the law are subject to its full force.
The Government made a manifesto commitment not to amend the Hunting Act. I support this.
Since the introduction of the Hunting Act 2004, many hunts have turned to trail hunting as an alternative to live quarry hunting. This involves a pack of hounds following an artificially laid, animal-based scent so does not involve a hunt for a live fox, and therefore is not banned.
For an offence to be committed it is necessary to prove that a wild animal is being hunted intentionally. If proven, this can lead to prosecution and an unlimited fine.
Anyone who believes that an offence has taken place during a hunt, including during a trail hunt, should report the matter to the police.
Testing on Animals:
In 1998, the UK became the first country to ban Testing cosmetic products on animals. We can be proud that the UK was the first country in the world to implement laws protecting animals.
I am glad that the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act provides some of the toughest sanctions in Europe for animal cruelty offences, enabling tougher prison sentences for the most serious perpetrators of animal cruelty, from the previous maximum of six months to up to five years.
With regards to the issues raised around chemical testing, I can assure you that the Government has recognised the public concern around the testing of animals with chemicals used as ingredients in cosmetics.
I welcome the fact that the Government has introduced measures that ensure no new licences will now be granted for animal testing of chemicals that are exclusively intended to be used as ingredients in cosmetics products.
Furthermore, the Government is taking action to seek alternatives to animal testing for workers and the environmental safety of chemicals used exclusively as cosmetic ingredients. This reflects the Government’s wider commitment to replacing the use of animals in science wherever scientifically possible.
Animal testing causes huge amounts of suffering, and numerous scientific studies have concluded that the findings from animal tests are poor indicators of effective treatments and cures for human diseases. Far more efficient treatments can be identified by using non-animal approaches.
I have signed an open letter calling for a government-led roadmap detailing how the UK will reduce experimentation on animals. The objective of any plan to reduce animal testing must be to phase out their use entirely.
In May 2024 I asked the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology how the Government supports scientists in the transition to animal-free, human-specific technologies.
In response, the Minister informed me that the Government is funding the development of techniques that seek to replace, reduce, and refine the use of animals in research. I am also pleased that a network has been launched to bring together representatives from academia, industry, and regulatory authorities to facilitate the sharing of knowledge on the use of non-animal methods.
Use of Farrowing Crates for Pregnant Pigs:
Some constituents have been in touch expressing their concerns over the continued use of farrowing crates for pregnant pigs in UK farms.
It is important to ensure that the UK continues to strike a balance between its commitment to high standards of animal welfare, whilst guaranteeing the continuation of the UK pig farming sector in what has been a challenging few years.
I am pleased that the UK is ahead of most other pig producing countries in terms of zero confinement farrowing, with 40 per cent of the national sow breeding herd farrowing freely on outdoor pig units with no option of confinement.
Furthermore, the Government's Animal Health and Welfare Plan (2023) included a commitment to supporting producers in the transition to less confined alternatives for the sow, whilst safeguarding the welfare of her piglets and maintaining worker safety.
I have raised the continued use of farrowing cages for pregnant pigs in UK farms with the relevant minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and await his response.
XL Bully Ban:
Some constituents have been in touch regarding the Government’s decision to add XL Bully breed types to the list of breeds prohibited by the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991.
As a strong advocate for animal welfare, I want to assure constituents who are concerned that the legislation will lead to the removal of a beloved pet from the family home, that I take seriously their concerns.
My ministerial colleagues have deemed that these steps are necessary to ensure public safety, but please be assured that the Government understands the need to balance implementing safeguards that protect the public from harm, whilst also ensuring that responsible XL Bully type owners are not forcibly separated from their pets.
Some constituents have voiced their concerns over the decision to use physical characteristics to determine whether a dog is an XL Bully breed type, due to the potential risk of subjectivity when owners are asked to self-determine whether their dog is an XL Bully type.
The full definition can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog.
The definition provides concerned dog owners with clear guidelines to help them determine whether their dog is an XL Bully type, and for dogs that do meet the characteristics, the Government has produced clear guidelines for the necessary next steps.
The physical characteristics outlined in the legislation have been defined by a panel of representatives from the police, local authorities, devolved administrations and animal welfare experts. The definition also provides authorities with a clear framework for enforcing the legislation, thereby aiming to reduce any inconsistency upon implementation.
For dog owners whose dog meets the characteristics outlined in the guidelines, the next steps are as follows:
From 31st December 2023, the breeding, selling, exchanging, gifting, abandoning, or allowing of XL Bully breed types to be without a muzzle or off lead in public, will be banned.
Owners who wish to legally keep their dogs have until 31st January 2024 to register their dog on the Index of Exempted dogs. Once registered they will receive a Certificate of Exemption and they will need to comply with the requirements of the Index.
This includes the requirement for all dogs on the Index to be neutered. Owners must also hold public liability insurance and ensure that the dog is microchipped, kept on a lead, muzzled at all times in public, and kept in a secure place to prevent escape.
The application for a Certificate of Exemption can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-certificate-of-exemption-to-keep-an-xl-bully-dog . Further details on the specific requirements of the Index can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-on-xl-bully-dogs.
Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me on this important subject.
