Draft bill to recognise animal sentience
The new bill will recognise animal sentience in domestic law.
The government will today (12 December) launch a draft bill that says it must “have regard to the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings” when formulating and implementing policy.
Speaking on Monday, Defra secretary Michael Gove said that the new law will also increase the maximum sentences for animal cruelty from six months to five years.
“This will mean that Britain sets the gold standard for animal welfare and for protection of animals overall,” he said. “I hope that in the weeks and months ahead that we’ll be able to announce new policies which also show that as we leave the EU, the protection that we afford to animals is stronger, more robust, more admirable than ever.”
The news follows a campaign led by the BVA to enshrine Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty into UK Law. Responding to the announcement, BVA president John Fishwick said:
“Vets have been clear in our calls that the duty on the state to have due regard for animal welfare - as captured in Article 13 of the EU Lisbon Treaty - must be enshrined in UK law. This bill captures the substantive obligation that Article 13 currently puts on the national government to consider animal welfare, as well as explicitly recognising animals as sentient beings.”
He continues: “Today’s draft Bill lays out in black and white the Government making good on its promises, to ensure the UK remains a global leader in animal welfare post-Brexit.”
The RSPCA also welcomed the news. David Bowles, the RSPCA’s head of public affairs said: “This is potentially great news for animals post-Brexit.
“To include the recognition of animal sentience as well as increasing animal cruelty sentencing to five years into the new 2018 Animal Welfare Bill is a very bold and welcome move by the government.
"Even better, the legislation explicitly rejects the kind of exemptions for activities that the European Union deemed acceptable - such as bullfighting and producing foie gras - which will offer even stronger protection than Article 13 of the EU Treaty could ever do."
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home chief executive Claire Horton added: “Battersea is greatly encouraged by the Government's willingness to see sentences for the most shocking cases of animal cruelty increase from six months to five years and today's Defra announcement takes a significant step in that direction."
RCVS Knowledge has welcomed Professor Peter Cockcroft as editor-in-chief for Veterinary Evidence. 
