Debate on the Animal Welfare Strategy for England

The government’s animal welfare strategy for England

The government published an animal welfare strategy for England (“the strategy”) on 22 December 2022. The strategy sets out the UK Government’s priorities for England, focusing on the changes and improvements it wants to achieve by 2030. Animal welfare is a devolved policy responsibility.

Labour manifesto commitments

The publication of the strategy follows commitments made in the Labour party manifesto 2024 (PDF) on animal welfare:

Labour will improve animal welfare. We will ban trail hunting and the import of hunting trophies. We will end puppy smuggling and farming, along with the use of snare traps. And we will partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing.” (p59)

The manifesto also said that the party would, “work with farmers and scientists on measures to eradicate Bovine TB [tuberculosis], protecting livelihoods, so that we can end the ineffective badger cull. (p59)

This pack includes details of the areas included in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, stakeholder views on the strategy, recent parliamentary material and recent news items.