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Animal Welfare: Tourism

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 18 February 2026UIN 112493

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether overseas tourism activities involving animals are currently being considered for inclusion within the Activity Regulations under the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

Answered by Dame Angela Eagle

The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad.

The Act grants enforcement powers to Trading Standards in England and the Department for the Economy for Northern Ireland to monitor compliance of future regulations.

It is important that any regulations are effective and work in practice, and as set out in the animal welfare strategy published in December 2025, we are continuing to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad and will be setting out next steps in due course.

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