Thank you to the many constituents who have recently got in touch regarding animal sentience in UK law.
The Government remains committed to making any
necessary changes to UK law to ensure animal sentience is legally recognised
post transition and appropriate legislation will be brought forward as
necessary. I understand that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs is currently assessing how best to support Government departments in
considering the welfare needs of sentients animals when they are developing and
implementing Government policy, as well as continuing to engage closely with
other organisations and authorities to enhance its policies on this issue
further.
It is worth mentioning the Agriculture Bill
which will allow us to introduce new land management schemes in England where
we can reward farmers and land managers who protect our environment, improve
animal welfare and produce high quality food in a more sustainable way. There
are also powers in the Agriculture Bill provide support for farmers to invest
in equipment, technology and infrastructure to improve their productivity as
well as allowing for transparency in the supply chain to help British farmers
to seek a fairer return from the marketplace.
Outside of the EU, the UK will remain party to
bodies such has the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species and others and will continue to
promote animal welfare standards internationally.
The Government is already taking strong action
to improve animal welfare at home and abroad by increasing maximum sentences
for animal cruelty, banning third party sales of puppies, and introducing the
world’s toughest bans on ivory sales. Significantly as well the Government has
now committed to banning live animal exports.
If you would like to discuss this further or
any other matter, then please do not hesitate to contact me.
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