Are Animals Sentient? The Government Wants Your View On New Law

By

2 Minutes Read

The draft bill acknowledges that animals are sentient (Photo: We Animals) - Media Credit:

The Government’s consultation on its draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill closes tomorrow – giving you only one more day to share your thoughts on the proposed bill.

The draft was created last year in response to recent public outrage after MPs voted to leave an EU clause which says animals are sentient out of domestic law following Brexit.

According to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs [DEFRA]: “[The proposed legislation] does two things. 

“It states that animals are sentient beings and it increases the maximum penalty for animal welfare cruelty offences from six months to five years imprisonment.”

Consultation

The consultation, which has lasted for almost seven weeks, ends on January 31, 2018.

It gives people an opportunity to share their thoughts on the draft bill.

According to DEFRA: “The Bill reflects the principle of animal sentience in domestic law and increases the maximum sentences for animal cruelty tenfold, from six months to five years in England and Wales.

“This draft Bill will embed the principle that animals are sentient beings, capable of feeling pain and pleasure. 

“It contains an obligation, directed towards government, to pay regard to the welfare needs of animals when formulating and implementing government policy. 

“The animal sentience provisions do not apply to policies which have been devolved to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The devolved administrations have the ability to take the same steps as we are proposing in devolved areas if they wish to do so.”

You cantake part in the consultation here

Join The Plant Based Newsletter and we will plant a tree! 🌳

We plant a tree for every signup. You’ll receive our weekly news round-up and be the first to hear about, product launches, exclusive offers and more!

© 2023 Plant Based News is a UK-based digital media outlet publishing content about veganism and plant-based living, including news and current events, health, personal transformation stories, features, and recipes. | Plant Based News Ltd, PO Box 71173, London, SE20 9DQ, United Kingdom.

buttons/scroll-to-top/scroll-to-top-small-active