Our Animal Welfare Record of Delivery Since 2010
We are a nation of animal lovers, and animal welfare has been a priority for the Government since 2010. Our record means the UK is a world leader on animal welfare: the UK is the highest ranked G7 nation on the Animal Protection Index, and indeed joint highest in the world.
Since 2010, we have:
- Recognised animal sentience in law and launched the Committee which will advise government on how policy decisions should take account of animal welfare.
- Ramped up enforcement with:
- Increased maximum sentences for animal cruelty from six months to five years’ imprisonment.
- Launched the consultation on financial penalty notice powers of up to £5,000 in addition to existing penalties under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
- New protections for service animals with ‘Finn’s Law’.
- Raised farm animal welfare:
- Launched the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway with new annual vet visits and grants.
- Implemented a revised welfare at slaughter regime and introduced CCTV in all slaughterhouses.
- Banned traditional battery cages for laying hens, permitted beak trimming via only infra-red technology.
- Raised standards for meat chickens.
- Significantly enhanced companion animal welfare:
- Revamped the local authority licensing regime for commercial pet services including selling, dog breeding, boarding, animal displays.
- Banned the third party puppy and kitten sales with Lucy’s Law.
- Made microchipping compulsory for cats and dogs.
- Introduced offences for horse fly-grazing and abandonment.
- Introduced new community order powers to address dog issues.
- Provided valuable new protections for wild animals:
- Banned wild animals in travelling circuses.
- Passed the Ivory Act, including one of the toughest bans on elephant ivory sales in the world, and earlier this week extended it to five further species.
- Gave the police additional powers to tackle hare coursing.
- Banned glue traps.
- Supported the Private Members’ Bill which passed in this session banning trade in detached shark fins.
- Supported the Private Members’ Bill currently before Parliament banning the import of hunting trophies.
- Supported the Private Members’ Bill currently before Parliament banning the advertising and offering for sale here of unacceptably low animal welfare activities abroad.
- Launched the consultation to ban the keeping of primates as pets.
Yours Sincerely,
Sally-Ann Hart MP.
