1-20 of 79 results for subject:"Animal Welfare Committee"
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what way the Animal Welfare Committee’s advice on breeding will inform the assessment of targets and timescales on a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what way the Animal Welfare Committee’s advice on breeding will inform the assessment of targets and timescales on a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
The Government will draw upon the wide-ranging advice within the Animal Welfare Committee’s recent report on livestock breeding in all upcoming work. The report did not however provide an in-depth assessment of the welfare status of fast-growing breeds of meat chickens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information she holds on when the Animal Welfare Committee plans to publish its report on the responsible sourcing of fur.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information she holds on when the Animal Welfare Committee plans to publish its report on the responsible sourcing of fur.
As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy published in December 2025, we will publish the results of the previous Government’s call for evidence on the fur trade. Defrawill also publish and consider carefully the report from the Animal Welfare Committee on the responsible sourcing of fur. This is due to be completed shortly and will be published on GOV.UK thereafter.
The strategy also stated that we will bring together a working group on fur. The group will include both industry experts as well as those who support restrictions on the trade in fur. The aim of the working group will be to explore concerns regarding the trade in fur and the different ways in which they could be addressed.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the results of the Animal Welfare Committee's review of the responsible sourcing of fur will be published.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the results of the Animal Welfare Committee's review of the responsible sourcing of fur will be published.
Defra is continuing to build the evidence base on the fur sector. This includes commissioning our expert Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) to produce a report on what constitutes responsible sourcing of fur. This is due to be completed in 2025 and will be published on GOV.UK thereafter.
We are also aware that the European Food Safety Authority has published a report on the welfare of fur animals and are reviewing its findings.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Animal Welfare Advisory Body.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Animal Welfare Advisory Body.
Departments are responsible for assessing the potential costs of proposed new arms length bodies as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.
The Government has conducted a full line-by-line Spending Review which covered the costs of proposed and existing ALBs to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.
On 6 April, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a full review of all ALBs, including new ALB proposals, to drive efficiency and reduce bureaucracy and duplication as part of Prime Minister’s Plan for Change. This review is ongoing. Any future decision to set up any new ALBs would need to follow the joint HMT and Cabinet Office approval process for new bodies.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Animal Welfare Committee will consider the public health risks associated with global fur production in its review on the responsible sourcing of fur.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Animal Welfare Committee will consider the public health risks associated with global fur production in its review on the responsible sourcing of fur.
The remit of the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) is to provide advice on animal welfare standards relating to animals kept by people. As such, public health matters fall outside of the Committee’s remit.
More information on AWC’s terms of reference is available on the AWC gov.uk page (here).
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Animal Welfare Committee will publish its review on the responsible sourcing of fur.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Animal Welfare Committee will publish its review on the responsible sourcing of fur.
I refer Seamus Logan to the reply given to Neil Duncan-Jordan on 21 February 2025, PQ 32807.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on when the Animal Welfare Committee will start work on its project on the welfare of decapod crustaceans in the supply chain.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on when the Animal Welfare Committee will start work on its project on the welfare of decapod crustaceans in the supply chain.
A project on the “welfare of decapod crustaceans across the supply chain in the UK” is included in the Animal Welfare Committee work plan (available on the AWC website).
The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024 received Royal Assent on 20 May 2024 (prior to the General Election). It makes it an offence to export livestock from or through Great Britain for slaughter outside the British Islands.
The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024 received Royal Assent on 20 May 2024 (prior to the General Election). It makes it an offence to export livestock from or through Great Britain for slaughter outside the British Islands.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his Department's policy that deliberate cruelty against companion animals is a standing item on the agenda of the Animal Welfare Committee.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his Department's policy that deliberate cruelty against companion animals is a standing item on the agenda of the Animal Welfare Committee.
Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is an offence under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. In 2021, the maximum sentence for this offence was increased to five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
The Government can seek independent, authoritative, impartial and timely advice from the Animal Welfare Committee for all animal welfare matters relating to animals kept by people.
In relation to companion animal welfare, the Committee advises the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Scottish and Welsh Governments. The Committee produce reports according to topics agreed annually, but do not have standing items on their agenda.
More information on AWC’s terms of reference and workplan is available on the GOV.UK page (here).
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2023 to Question 158986 on Animal Welfare: Fish Farming, if she will provide an update on the progress made by her Department on studying the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee;...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2023 to Question 158986 on Animal Welfare: Fish Farming, if she will provide an update on the progress made by her Department on studying the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee;...
We will publish AWC’s updated Opinion on the Welfare of Farmed Fish at the Time of Killing. The Government does not respond to AWC advice but their advice and recommendations are used extensively in policy development.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2023 to Question 158986 on Animal Welfare: Fish Farming, what discussions she has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) relevant stakeholders on the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee's Opinion...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2023 to Question 158986 on Animal Welfare: Fish Farming, what discussions she has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) relevant stakeholders on the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee's Opinion...
A range of topics are discussed with Cabinet colleagues but such discussions are confidential.
Defra officials will engage with relevant stakeholders to discuss the recommendations in the Animal Welfare Committee’s report once it is published.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2023 to Question 139212 on Animal Welfare: Fish Farming, what her planned timetable is for reviewing the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2023 to Question 139212 on Animal Welfare: Fish Farming, what her planned timetable is for reviewing the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee.
The Animal Welfare Committee has completed its update to the 2014 Opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing. I will study its recommendations carefully in the coming months to determine next steps.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice she has received from the Animal Welfare Committee on the use of high concentrations of CO2 to stun and kill pigs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice she has received from the Animal Welfare Committee on the use of high concentrations of CO2 to stun and kill pigs.
The Animal Welfare Committee’s (AWC) predecessor, the Farm Animal Welfare Council provided advice to the Government in 2003 which concluded that “the use of high concentrations of CO2 (80% and above) to stun and kill pigs is not acceptable”; and recommended “Government and the industry should fund research and development into the use of non-aversive gas mixtures. The use of aversive gas mixtures should be phased out within five years.” The Government has supported research into the use of alternatives. This includes inert gas mixtures, where there are practical constraints which have so far restricted commercial update. The Government has also part-funded research into low atmospheric pressure stunning (LAPS), however results demonstrated that LAPS is associated with poor welfare in pigs. We continue to engage with AWC on the need for alternatives to high concentration CO2 stunning of pigs.
We accept that there are longstanding animal welfare concerns associated with high concentration CO2 gas stunning of pigs. Following publication in 2021 of the Post Implementation Review of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 and as part of our Action Plan for Animal Welfare, we are currently considering a number of improvements that could be made. We have also met with industry to discuss alternatives to high concentration CO2 stunning of pigs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Animal Welfare Committee is expected to update its previous Fish Welfare at Slaughter opinion; and what assessment he has made of potential differences in regulation regarding the slaughter of fish and other aquatic animals compared to...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Animal Welfare Committee is expected to update its previous Fish Welfare at Slaughter opinion; and what assessment he has made of potential differences in regulation regarding the slaughter of fish and other aquatic animals compared to...
As part of the Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare, we are currently considering a number of improvements that could be made to the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing and have asked the Animal Welfare Committee to update its 2014 Opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing this year. Their advice is expected this autumn.
No assessment has been made of the differences in regulation regarding the slaughter of fish and other aquatic animals and terrestrial farmed animals.
Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing requires that farmed fish are spared avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations but does not include any further requirements. The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 makes it an offence for any person engaged in the restraint, stunning or killing of an invertebrate to cause avoidable pain, distress or suffering.
The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 received Royal Assent on 28 April and provides legal recognition that animals with a backbone (vertebrates), decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs are sentient beings. This means the Animal Sentience Committee will be able to consider how individual central government policy decision making takes account of the welfare of these creatures and can publish reports on this.
My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness and see her so loyally supporting my Government—and in the Lobbies as well, no doubt.
I shall add a point to the amendment moved by the noble Lord, Lord Trees, and, in reference to the point made by the noble...
My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness and see her so loyally supporting my Government—and in the Lobbies as well, no doubt.
I shall add a point to the amendment moved by the noble Lord, Lord Trees, and, in reference to the point made by the noble...
Moved by
Lord Trees
1: Clause 1, page 1, line 4, at end insert—
“(1A) The function of the Committee is to determine whether, in relation to the process of the formulation and implementation of policy subsequent to the Committee’s establishment, it is satisfied the Government is having all due regard to the...
Moved by
Lord Trees
1: Clause 1, page 1, line 4, at end insert—
“(1A) The function of the Committee is to determine whether, in relation to the process of the formulation and implementation of policy subsequent to the Committee’s establishment, it is satisfied the Government is having all due regard to the...
My Lords, I declare my interests as co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare and a former president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, so it will come as no surprise to noble Lords that I broadly support the Bill. Moreover, in 2018 I tabled an amendment...
My Lords, I declare my interests as co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare and a former president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, so it will come as no surprise to noble Lords that I broadly support the Bill. Moreover, in 2018 I tabled an amendment...
My Lords, Amendments 12, 14 and 16 in this group are in my name. However, I will first support Amendment 1 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Trees, which seems to be both sensible and necessary to be made to the Bill if we are to have a...
My Lords, Amendments 12, 14 and 16 in this group are in my name. However, I will first support Amendment 1 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Trees, which seems to be both sensible and necessary to be made to the Bill if we are to have a...
My Lords, in Committee a lot of us argued very strongly for several amendments, and one of course was to strengthen the terms of reference and ensure that the committee was free and independent from government interference. I was very happy to spend today arguing over various amendments and we...
My Lords, in Committee a lot of us argued very strongly for several amendments, and one of course was to strengthen the terms of reference and ensure that the committee was free and independent from government interference. I was very happy to spend today arguing over various amendments and we...
My Lords, I have two amendments in this group but, before I turn to them, I congratulate my noble friend on his announcement last week with regard to soil. It was a significant step forward by Her Majesty’s Government, and one that is wholly welcomed by those concerned about our...
My Lords, I have two amendments in this group but, before I turn to them, I congratulate my noble friend on his announcement last week with regard to soil. It was a significant step forward by Her Majesty’s Government, and one that is wholly welcomed by those concerned about our...