Written Question·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·UIN 68225

Animal Welfare

Tabled: 15 July 2025
Answered: 22 July 2025
Named Day

Question

Alex Brewer

Liberal DemocratNorth East Hampshire

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.

Answer

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 welf...

This is an extract from the Parliament API. Search the full answer on Parliament.uk (UIN 68225) →