UK government U-turns on major animal welfare bill that would have banned live animal exports and tackled puppy smuggling

The UK government has been slammed for scrapping a major animal welfare bill.

The Kept Animal Bill was first introduced to Parliament in June 2021 and went through two readings in the House of Commons.

If passed, the bill would have banned the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter, restricted the keeping of primates as ‘pets’, and tackled puppy smuggling.

However – at the very last hurdle – the proposed legislation has been shelved.

Animal welfare bill scrapped

Vegan charity PETA accused the government of ‘betraying’ the British public for ‘turning its back’ on the bill.

“Animals raised for their flesh already suffer tremendously,” the organisation wrote.

“The absolute least the government could do is spare them the unnecessary trauma and terror of an arduous journey overseas before they’re killed. Which, is what the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill would have done.

“PETA and other animal protection groups will now push for these vital legal protections to be delivered via private members’ bills.”

‘Political games’

According to the BBC, Environment Minister Mark Spencer told MPs he shelved the bill over fears Labour would play ‘political games’.

He also said measures in the bill would now be ‘delivered in different ways’.

However, Claire Bass of the Humane Society International/UK claimed the bill has been dropped in fear of it opening ‘uncomfortable debates on polarising issues’ such as hunting with dogs.

*Sources state there have been no live animal exports in the UK since 2020. However, the Kept Animal Bill would ensure this practice never happens again.

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