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Animal Welfare

Asked by Alex BrewerLiberal DemocratDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 22 July 2025UIN 68225

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals on animal sentience.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 already recognises vertebrate animals, decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs as sentient beings. The Act created an accountability mechanism which aims to ensure that UK Ministers have due regard to their welfare needs when formulating and implementing government policy.

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