Lib Dems: Animal welfare standards central to liberal values

The Liberal Democrats have today passed a motion at their conference in Brighton calling on the Government to pay full regard to animal welfare, with a range of measures to improve the treatment of animals.  

Liberal Democrats committed to phase out animal experiments that cause extreme suffering, to reduce deformities in pedigree pets, make horse racing safer and ban the use of wild animals in circuses. 

The conference also voted to ban inhumane glue traps and to end the use of wild animals in circuses immediately. 

With 80% of current legislation originating in the EU, Brexit is a threat to current safeguards. 

Members called upon the Government to guarantee that all future trade deals have animal welfare and environmental standards at least equivalent to those currently held in the UK. 

Commenting on this series of new policies for the party, Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron said: 

“The Liberal Democrats have always valued the part that animals play in our world and we will always demand the best environmental and welfare standards. 

“Treating animals with respect is central to our liberal values and we call upon the Government to reflect this belief in its own policies.  

“As Liberal Democrats we are always proud to stand up for the rights of those that cannot stand up for themselves and we demand the same from our Government.” 

ENDS

Notes to editors:

F4: Improving Animal Welfare
 
Conference notes with concern that:
 
A.    80 per cent of current animal welfare legislation originates from EU law.
B.    If the UK were to leave the EU, it could have serious implications for animal welfare in the UK.
C.    As a result of Brexit, the UK government may receive pressure from potential new trading partners to open markets to low-welfare animal products, undermining British producers and standards.
 
Conference believes that:
 
i)     Animals are sentient beings with the capacity to feel pain and suffering.
ii)    All protection measures currently afforded to animals under EU regulations must be transposed into UK law.
iii)  The government must pay full regard to animal welfare when developing all future policy, particularly upcoming legislation on farming, fisheries and international trade.
iv)   Government policy must support British farmers to produce a safe and affordable supply of food while maintaining and where possible, improving high animal welfare standards.
 
Conference reaffirms pledges in the Liberal Democrat 2017 Manifesto, Change Britain’s Future, to:
 
a)    Ensure that future trade agreements require high environmental and animal welfare standards at least equivalent to standards in the UK.
b)    Improve standards of animal health and welfare in agriculture by updating farm animal welfare codes and other legislation, and promoting the responsible stewardship of antibiotic drugs.
c)    Introduce stronger penalties for animal cruelty offences, clamp down on illegal pet imports, fund research into alternatives to animal testing and bring in a ban on caged hens.
 
Conference calls on the Government to:
 
1.    Prevent unnecessarily painful practices in farming including: non-anaesthetised castration, dehorning, live plucking and force feeding for foie gras.
2.    Commit to phasing out experiments on sentient animals that cause extreme suffering, as defined in UK legislation, and replacing them with humane alternatives.
3.    Include the justification for using live animals in experiments in the Freedom of Information Act.
4.    Ensure that all public procurement in the UK is compliant with high animal welfare standards.
5.    Ensure police officers and other public officers in charge of the enforcement of animal welfare legislation receive relevant training and maintain funding for the Wildlife Crime Unit.
6.    Promote responsible breeding of companion animals to reduce avoidable diseases and deformities that can result from pedigree and purebred practices.
7.    Support the establishment of an EU-wide harmonised system of identification and registration of companion animals.
8.    Establish an independent regulatory body for horse welfare, which is separate from the British Horseracing Authority, to prevent abuse of racehorses and reduce avoidable deaths.
9.    Avoid the culling of badgers, or other animals, for public or animal health reasons. Culling should only be considered as a last resort and carried out at the minimum necessary level if clear, independent scientific advice shows that no humane alternative is available.
10.  Ban the use of wild animals in circuses in England and Wales.
11.  Ban the use of glue traps which cause prolonged suffering for animals.
12.  Ban the sale of ivory and parts of endangered species.