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Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill: HL Bill 122 of 2022–23

On 14 July 2023, the second reading of the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill is scheduled to take place in the House of Lords. It is a private member’s bill from the House of Commons, which was originally introduced by Angela Richardson (Conservative MP for Guildford). Its sponsor in the Lords is Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative). It completed its House of Commons stages on 17 March 2023 and is supported by the government. The bill has received cross-party support.

The bill would prohibit the sale, offering for sale, or advertisement in England and Northern Ireland of low-welfare animal activities which take place abroad. The activity types covered would be set out in regulations, but would include those where animals are subject to unnecessary suffering or are kept in confinement, for example their use in tourist entertainment. This would be based on the UK’s welfare standards.