Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation welcomes the announcement today of the new Bill which ensures sentences for animal cruelty are increased for up to 5 years and that animal sentience is reflected in domestic law. The draft bill sets out that the government “must have regard to the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings in formulating and implementing government policy”

The plans underline the government’s commitment to raising animal welfare standards, ensuring there will be enhanced protections for animals as we leave the EU.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

“As we leave the EU we will deliver a Green Brexit, not only maintaining but enhancing animal welfare standards.

“Animals are sentient beings who feel pain and suffering, so we are writing that principle into law and ensuring that we protect their welfare.

“Our plans will also increase sentences for those who commit the most heinous acts of animal cruelty to five years in jail.

“We are a nation of animal lovers so we will make Brexit work not just for citizens but for the animals we love and cherish too.”

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The Draft Bill considers the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings, the trial and sentence options for certain animal welfare offences and will be implemented throughout England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In a report last March the Foundation said that many of the UK's food and farming policies have been shaped at EU level and the Government now has an opportunity to redefine these policies.They said they would like to see all 44 laws maintained at the very least. We now have the power to lead our own farming policies to advance farm animal welfare, implement higher standards than those under the EU laws, protect the Environment and promote healthier public diets to combat heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Although the UK sees itself as operating some of the highest animal welfare standards, examples exist where it has fallen behind other countries. There are certain areas where other countries have higher welfare standards than the UK, such as on the farming of chicken and laying hens.

The largest body of EU legislation concerns farm animals with 18 relevant EU laws adopted. There are five laws setting standards on the way farm animals are reared and produced. There are species specific laws for laying hens, veal calves, meat chickens and pigs.

There is also legislation covering consumer information, such as mandatory labelling of the provenance of eggs and beef, the labelling of some poultry meats, and country of origin legislation regarding where certain meats and animal products have been produced. One law sets rules on the live transport of animals and a further one on how animals must be killed/slaughtered. Certain veterinary products have been prohibited with bans on the use of hormones in cattle, including BST, which can have a negative impact on the welfare of the animals.

The response to the draft bill has been positive:-

Sir Roger Gale MP, a patron of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation said:

"I am delighted that the Secretary of State, Michael Gove, is moving so swiftly to implement the intentions that he announced when he spoke at the meeting of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation recently and look forward to studying the detail of the bill."

 Sir David Amess MP,  a patron of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation said:

“ I am absolutely delighted with this ,as no doubt all animal lovers will be a PERFECT XMAS PRESENT”

Henry Smith MP, Co-Chairman of All Part Group for Animal Welfare and a patron of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation said:

"The continued Conservative commitment to end cruelty has taken another step forward with the very welcome announcement of an Animal Welfare Bill, including recognising sentience. Such real action is fantastic news."

Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation Co-Founder commented:

“It’s great news to hear that the Government will increase sentencing for animal cruelty. We proposed stronger sentencing in our animal welfare document which we presented to No10 in January with our Patron Sir Roger Gale MP. We also proposed stronger sentencing in our manifesto  which we sent to the manifesto team back in April this year. There has been increasing pressure to raise the maximum penalty for animal cruelty sentences from six months to five years in prison. Support has been growing both among MPs and the public, amid calls from animal welfare groups including the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation.

We are delighted to see the governments promise that animal sentients would be recognized in a new animal welfare bill acted upon so quickly.”