BREAKING: Government Promises Animals 'Will Be Recognized As Sentient' After Brexit

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Environment Secretary Michael Gove has promised that UK law will consider animals as sentient following a row this week.

Politicians have been under fire after voting to leave an EU clause which says animals are sentient out of domestic law.

The amendment – clause 30 [NC30] – was submitted by Green MP Caroline Lucas. She wanted to transfer EU protocol set out in Article 13 of Title II of the Lisbon Treaty.

But the move was rejected by a slim majority of 18 – only 295 were in favor, with 313 against.

Statement

Now Environment Secretary Michael Gove has said the ‘sentience of animals will continue to be recognised and protections strengthened when we leave the EU’.

He added: “This Government is committed to the very highest standards of animal welfare. As the Prime Minister has set out, we will make the United Kingdom a world leader in the care and protection of animals.

“It has been suggested that the vote last week on New Clause 30 of the EU Withdrawal Bill somehow signalled a weakening in the protection of animals – that is wrong.

“Voting against the amendment was not a vote against the idea that animals are sentient and feel pain – that is a misconception.”

Policies

Gove claims that ‘Ministers explained during the debate that the Government’s policies on animal welfare are driven by our recognition that animals are indeed sentient beings and we are acting energetically to reduce the risk of harm to animals – whether on farms or in the wild’.

He said: “The vote against New Clause 30 was the rejection of a faulty amendment, which would not have achieved its stated aims of providing appropriate protection for animals.

“The Prime Minister has made clear that we will strengthen our animal welfare rules.

“This government will ensure that any necessary changes required to UK law are made in a rigorous and comprehensive way to ensure animal sentience is recognised after we leave the EU.

“The Withdrawal Bill is not the right place to address this, however we are considering the right legislative vehicle.”

Article 13

According to Gove, he believes Article 13 (which contains the clause on animal sentience) does ‘not direct effect in law’ and have therefore ‘failed to prevent practices across the EU which are cruel and painful to animals’.

“In contrast, here in the UK, we are improving animal welfare standards without EU input and beyond the scope of Article 13,” he added.

“We are making CCTV mandatory in all slaughterhouses – a requirement which goes above and beyond any EU rule.

“We will consult on draft legislation to jail animal abusers for up to five years – more than almost every other European nation.

“We propose combatting elephant poaching with a ban on the ivory trade which is more comprehensive than anywhere else in Europe.

“Our ban on microbeads which harm marine animals has been welcomed by Greenpeace as ‘the strongest in the world’, and is certainly the strongest in Europe.”

Further measures

The Environment Secretary says he wants to ban the live export of animals after Brexit – EU rules currently prevent the Government from restricting or banning the practice.

He added: “EU rules also restrict us from cracking down on puppy smuggling or banning the import of puppies under six months.

“Article 13 has not stopped any of these practices – but leaving the EU gives us the chance to do much better. We hope to say more in these areas next year.

“This government will continue to promote and enhance animal welfare, both now and after we have left the EU.”