EU withdrawal bill: Animal sentience clause not to be included in Brexit withdrawal bill

EU bill: MPs voted against including animal sentience in the divorce bill
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Fiona Simpson24 November 2017
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MPs have voted to reject the inclusion of a clause that states animals can feel emotion and pain into the EU withdrawal bill.

The government faced a backlash after voting to dismiss animal sentience from the Brexit bill last week.

Animal rights activists said the exclusion of the ruling, which was incorporated into EU law in 2009 via the Lisbon Treaty after years of campaigning, was "shocking".

However, ministers said during the debate that the clause is covered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

"It’s shocking that MPs have given the thumbs down to incorporating animal sentience into post-Brexit UK law," RSPCA head of public affairs David Bowles told Farming UK.

He added that domestic animals were only covered in the Act, and the 2006 law does not cover sentience.

“In the EU, we know that the recognition of animals as sentient beings has been effective in improving animal welfare across the region,” he said.

“If the UK is to achieve the Environment Secretary’s objective of achieving the highest possible animal welfare post-Brexit, it must do the same.”

A briefing paper on the debate read: “This has raised concerns amongst animal welfare campaigners because UK law, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, does not explicitly recognise the term although it does acknowledge that animals can experience suffering and pain.”

Citing the debate, a spokesman for the Government said: “We have made it clear that we intend to retain our existing standards of animal welfare once we have left the EU.

“The vehicle of this legislation will convert the existing body of EU animal welfare law into UK law. It will make sure that the same protections are in place in the UK and that laws still function effectively after the UK leaves the EU.”

Wildlife photographer Richard Bowler launched an online petition against the vote.

He posted on Facebook: “So MPs have voted and in their wisdom, animals can no longer feel pain or emotions. It really beggars belief that in this day and age, this shower of a government no longer recognises animals as sentient beings.

“None of them could have had a pet dog, greet them when they come home. But it's not just domestic animals that show love and affection.”

He posted the rant alongside a picture of a wild fox, whom he calls Rosie, and added that she “greets me every time I see her.”

  • The original headline on this story stated MPs had voted that animals could not feel pain or emotions, which was incorrect

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