Labour launches radical action on Animal Welfare

Labour today launches radical action on Animal Welfare that would look at introducing a ban on the live export of animals for slaughter, consult landlords on giving tenants the right to keep a pet, strengthen the Hunting Act, enshrine the principal of animal sentience in law, end the badger cull, implement a review of animal testing and expand affordable vet care for people on low incomes.

The 50 point draft policy document, ‘Animal Welfare For The Many, Not The Few,’ will go out for public consultation and proposes appointing an Animal Welfare Commissioner to ensure Government policy across Whitehall is continually informed by the latest scientific evidence on animal sentience.

The Commissioner would also ensure animal welfare standards are always considered in new legislation and are maintained in Britain’s involvement in international bodies and post-Brexit trade deals.

The proposals have been endorsed by the League against Cruel Sports, Compassion in World Farming and WWF.

Proposed policies include:

·       Enshrining the principle of animal sentience in law, ensuring it covers all policy areas to prevent practices that expose animals to cruel and degrading treatment

·       Strengthening the Hunting Act to close loopholes that allow illegal hunting

·       Consult landlords on giving tenants the default right to keep pets unless there is evidence the animal is causing a nuisance

·       Mandatory labelling of domestic and imported meat, including country of origin, method of production and slaughter (stun or non-stun)

·       Establishing an independent zoo inspectorate to draw up revised standards of animal welfare

·       Total ban on imports of Foie Gras

·       Ending the badger cull

·       Requiring motorists to report accidents where an animal has been injured

·       Banning live exports of animals for slaughter or fattening and introducing mandatory CCTV in all slaughterhouses

·       Designing post-Brexit farm subsidies to move away from intensive factory farming and bad environmental practices

·       Prohibiting the third party sale of puppies and tackling puppy smuggling by reintroducing rabies testing before entry into the UK

·       Working with organisations like the PDSA to expand accessibility to affordable vet care for pet owners on low incomes

·       A comprehensive review of animal testing with a view to improving practice, limiting animal suffering and increasing transparency

·       Introducing a ‘blue belt’ to protect and enhance the marine environment around the UK and our overseas territories

Sue Hayman MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, said:

“Labour is the party of animal welfare. From bringing in the ban on fox hunting to tightening the rules on the transport of live animals, Labour has always been consistent in our leadership on matters of animal welfare.

“Today we’re making proposals for real, long-term progress. Our vision is one where no animal is made to suffer unnecessary pain and we continue to drive up standards and practice in line with the most recent advances and understanding.

“With new trade deals on the horizon and the UK no longer subject to EU-wide rules on animal welfare, we want to ensure there is a comprehensive legislative agenda in place so that the UK becomes a world leader on animal rights.”

Ends

Notes to editors

Eduardo Gonçalves, Chief Executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, said:

“We warmly welcome Labour’s commitment to strengthening the Hunting Act 2004, and look forward to contributing to the consultation process. It’s clear that hunts are routinely flouting the law and continuing to kill wildlife across Britain, whether that be through so-called ‘trail hunting’ or by exploiting legal loopholes. This must stop. The overwhelming majority of the British public want to see an end to hunting, and we look forward to making that a reality.”

Emma Slawinski, Director of Campaigns, Compassion in World Farming, said:

“We are thrilled by this announcement from the Labour Party, which would revolutionise conditions for British farm animals. Compassion is non-partisan and ready to support every move to improve the conditions on farms. We particularly welcome Labour's commitments to end the cage age, stop live exports, empower consumers with mandatory meat labelling, stop routine preventative use of antibiotics and use post-Brexit subsidies to move away from intensive factory farming and bad environmental practices. This could be the beginning of the end of cruel factory farming.”

Ben Stafford, Head of Campaigns at WWF, said:

"If we want our children and grandchildren to live in a world where elephants still roam and the oceans have more fish than plastic, we need a political race to the top on the environment. So it’s great to see Labour committing today to tackling the illegal wildlife trade and to strong protection for our seas. The UK must lead from the front on the environment, and that means all parties having ambitious plans for a more sustainable future."

Michelle Thew, CEO of Cruelty Free International, said:

“We wholeheartedly welcome the proposals in the animal welfare strategy announced today by Labour. In particular we are delighted to see a commitment to ending avoidable tests and experiments that cause severe suffering to animals, as well as the push for greater transparency. These are developments for which we have campaigned tirelessly for years. It shows tremendous progress that one of the major political parties is now committed to a positive plan for ending the suffering of animals in laboratories. The public will be overjoyed that their call for an end to cruel and unnecessary animal testing is being taken seriously. We believe this is the very start of a journey that will finally put a stop to needless animal experiments in the UK.”