UK Law Recognizes Animals As Sentient Beings, To Cease Most Live Animal Exports

18 May 2021

For the first time ever, the U.K. law will be formally recognising animals as sentient beings. A series of bills will be implementing welfare measures for the protection of both farm and pet animals. This will include an animal sentience bill.

George Eustice, the environment secretary, said: “We are a nation of animal lovers and were the first country in the world to pass animal welfare laws. Our action plan for animal welfare will deliver on our manifesto commitment to ban the export of live animal exports for slaughter and fattening, prohibit keeping primates as pets, and bring in new laws to tackle puppy smuggling. As an independent nation, we are now able to go further than ever to build on our excellent track record.”

Measures such as banning import of hunting trophies and ceasing a majority of live animal exports will be undertaken as part of these bills. The UK government has also pledged to keep animal welfare under consideration in future trade deals, although this is not a part of the law.

This reform will also ban the import of shark fins and ivory, and may also include the ban of foie gras.

“[This] will be significant in helping restore the balance of the oceans [and] sends a clear message to the world that shark fin soup belongs in the history books, not on the menu,” commented Steve Backshall, Wildlife TV presenter and a supporter of the Bite-Back campaign on shark finning.

As for pet animals, the reform will employ a taskforce to tackle pet theft, which has been a result of the "puppy boom" during Covid lockdown. It will also ban electric shock collars or e-collars used to train dogs, and attempt to bring down puppy smuggling by changing import guidelines. Citizens will also not be allowed to keep primates as pets, and will be required to microchip their cats.

Using glue traps will be prevented and the reform will also tackle illegal hare coursing. These measures will not ban the use of cages for poultry and farrowing crates for pigs immediately. However, farmers will be encouraged through incentives to improve the living conditions and health of animals. The police will be given the authority for the protection of farm animals from dogs loose in the countryside.

Claire Bass, executive director of Humane Society International/UK, said: “Delivering on the plan will require understanding and real commitment from across Whitehall. Respect for animal welfare is not only the right thing to do for animals, it will also play a critical role in tackling global environmental and public health challenges such as climate change, antibiotic resistance, and pandemic prevention.”

James West, senior policy manager at the pressure group Compassion in World Farming, said:

“We have long been calling for UK legislation that recognises animals as sentient beings and for sentience to be given due regard when formulating and implementing policy. We are also delighted the government has confirmed it will legislate for a long-overdue ban on live exports for slaughter and fattening. We have been campaigning for this for decades: it is high time this cruel and unnecessary trade is finally brought to an end. All of these positive announcements must be supported by a comprehensive method of production labelling, and it is essential that the government ensure these much-needed animal welfare improvements are not undermined by future trade agreements.”

These reforms are a culmination of long campaigns conducted by animal welfare activists. While some of these campaigns are more recent, others, such as the campaign to ban live animal exports, have been in action for decades.