The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation welcomes the Conservative 2024 Manifesto which features a number of pledges to continue ongoing commitments to improve animal welfare.
These include tackling puppy smuggling and livestock worrying, and to introducing a ban on the import of hunting trophies.
These pledges to remain committed build on the Conservative Party’s recent legislative achievements in animal welfare, such as the historic Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act and the new Pet Abduction Act 2024.
Since 2019, other notable legislation has been enacted, including the Animal Welfare (Sentience Act) including crustaceans and cephalopods, the Animal Welfare (Sentencing Act), the Glue Traps (Offences) Act, the Animals (Penalty Notices) Act, The Ivory Act, the Animal Welfare (Service Animals Act), the Animals (Penalty Notices) Act 2019, a ban on keeping primates as pets, a ban on third-party puppy and kitten sales, a ban on wild animals travelling in circuses, a ban on microbeads to protect marine life, mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses, mandatory microchipping of cats, the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act, and the Shark Fins Act.
Whilst the latest reiteration to remain committed to these causes in the 2024 Manifesto should be applauded, there remains much to do to further improve animal welfare in the UK.
Four of our key campaigns which we are working to achieve with the incoming new government include:
• A fixed and fair phase-out period of the use of farrowing crates for sows and gilts in the UK with ongoing transitional support for farmers during the phase-out period.
• A fixed and fair phase out period for enriched cages for laying hens in the UK with ongoing transitional support for farmers during the phase-out period.
• Introducing mandatory animal welfare labelling on all meat products for human consumption.
• Legislation to ensure that farmed fish have the equivalent legal protection to that of terrestrial farmed animals, including at time of slaughter.
