The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has welcomed the final stage of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill in its passage to becoming UK law.
Today the Bill received consideration of amendments in the House of Lords, the final stage before it will receive Royal Assent.
The landmark Bill delivers on key Conservative Party manifesto commitments, and will specifically:
- Recognise vertebrate animals, decapod crustaceans and cephalopods as sentient beings in law.
- Establish an Animal Sentience Committee made up of experts to ensure the consideration of animal sentience in policy formation.
- Ensure Ministers respond to recommendations made by the Animal Sentience Committee.
Having had its first reading in the House of Lords in May 2021, The Bill has now completed its final stage in Parliament. Throughout its journey, the Bill has enjoyed cross-party support from MPs and Peers, as well as support from the more than 50 animal welfare charities and campaigners -including CAWF- who form the Better Deal for Animals Coalition (BDFA).
Since its inception, the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation has welcomed legislation to recognise animal sentience and contributed a briefing supporting the Bill which was raised in Committee Stage by Kerry McCarthy MP to Minister Jo Churchill MP earlier this year. CAWF also campaigned for the inclusion of decapod crustaceans and cephalopods, which was successfully adopted through a government amendment in November 2021.
Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, commented: “Today we celebrate landmark legislation which enshrines animal sentience in UK law. Provision for the formation of an Animal Sentience Committee (ASC) will ensure the principles of animal sentience are considered in future policy formation, through the Committee’s advisory role and ability to scrutinise legislation.”
“We would like to thank the Government for their time and commitment in making this important legislation a reality, as well as the MPs and Peers across parties who have supported the Bill in its passage through Parliament. We can soon proudly be a country which recognises and respects animal sentience in law.”
